Paradoxes of Rationality

The Prisoner's Dilemma is a famous problem in game theory. Inits simplest form, two players are faced with independent choices: tocooperate or not to cooperate. Each does better if both cooperate thanif neither does; but each does better if he does not cooperate whateverthe other does. The outcome of their choice can be the differencebetween life and death. Philosophers see this problem as an abstactmodel of the classic conflict between self-interest and a sociallyadvantageous moral order. Some philosophers have argued that it is aspecial case of Newcomb's Problem, technically a puzzle inmathematical decision theory. There is a deep division amongstphilosophers over the nature and extent of the relationship betweenthese two dilemmas. Both, however, threaten the foundations of ethicaland political theory, even the social sciences, for they cast doubt onour understanding of rational behaviour. This anthology, the first to bring together the most importantphilosophical essays on the paradoxes, analyses the concepts underlyingthe Prisoner's Dilemma and Newcomb's Problem and evaluates theproposed solutions. The relevant theories have been developed over thepast four decades in a variety of disciplines: mathematics, economics,psychology, political science, biology, and philosophy. And theproblems these paradoxes uncover can arise in many different forms: indebates over nuclear disarmament, labour-management disputes, maritalconflicts, Calvinist theology, and even in the evolution of diseasethrough the "cooperation" of microorganisms. Thepossibilities for application are virtually limitless. The introduction gives the uninitiated reader sufficient backgroundto cope with the technical aspects of the discussions as well as to seehow the articles are linked together in an on-going dialectic. Many ofthe essays are already considered classics in the field; others, notpreviously published, provide responses to objections that have beenmade against the authors' earlier positions. Although designedprimarily for philosophers and philosophy students, Paradoxes ofRationality and Cooperation has broad implications for otherdisciplines as well as for interested non-specialists.