The models in mainstream game theory generally assume that actors act according to a single, consistent utility function. Empirical studies, common sense, and humanistic wisdom all suggest that that assumption is too simple. This book starts with an assumption that actors are controlled by diverse, inconsistent forces and demonstrates that introducing this level of complexity allows for the creation of critical game theory models that can help to attain new insights into nature, human nature, human institutions, and human behavior.
The book begins with an evolutionary, or Evo, model in which the players have concerns for the other player as well as egoistic interests. Part I analyzes the Prisoners Dilemma using a literary, or Lit, model in which the players have entropic, or Entro, masochistic and sadistic drives as well as altruistic and egoistic ones. Part II suggests that the Lit model opens the door to a where Entro is, let Evo be critical perspective on politics. Part III considers how core stories in mainstream game theory can be usefully supplemented and deepened by critical models and reflects on possible futures for critical game theory. The discussion of games and subgames includes poems as well as matrices, in pursuit of a mode of presentation that respects the complex, simultaneously humanistic and scientific qualities of critical game theory.
The vision of critical game theory advanced in the book will be of significant interest to researchers in an array of theoretical and applied disciplines, including but not limited to literature, psychology, political science, economics, computer science, ethics, business ethics, law, and law and economics.
This book starts with an assumption that actors are controlled by diverse, inconsistent forces and shows that introducing this level of complexity allows for the creation of a wide array of critical game theory models that can help to attain new insights into nature, human nature, human institutions, and human behaviour.
Acknowledgements; Prelude Lit, Evo, and Econ; Teaching/Learning Notes;
Postlude 1 Egoism and Altruism Science Poetry: Lucretius Refects; The Altru
Superego and Altru ID Play a Game; The Unhappy Altruist: The Altru I serves
the Ego It; Schelling Explains; The Joy of Cooking: Rombauer is Referenced;
Two Ego Players Make Their Recipes PART I The Prisoners Dilemma Reimagined 2
Lit and its Laws; Daffodils and Dalmatians: Crusoca Cruella-Socrates AI
DogDescribes Their Recent Trial; Law: Plutoa Plato AI DogVisits Crusoc in
Prison 3 Symmetry: We Are the Same; Reading Gaol: An Ego Prisoner Refects;
John Nash Talks with Crusoc; Silent as the Grave: An Altru Prisoner Refects;
Kongqiu Talks with Crusoc; Frustration: A Maso Prisoner Reflects; Nietzsche
Writes to Crusoc; In Spite: A Sado Prisoner Reflects; Crusoc Replies to
Nietzsche 4 One of Us Is Self-Oriented, One of Us Is Other-Oriented; You Love
Me More: An Altru Prisoner Sacrifices; Crusoc Talks with Mary Shelley; Our
Son: An Altru Mother Sacrifices; Andrea Dworkin Talks with Crusoc; Pyre:
Arjuna talks with Crusoc; A Maso Prisoner Muses; Prometheus: Marx talks with
Crusoc; A Sado Prisoner Rejoices 5 One of Us Is Evo, One of Us Is Entro; Make
or Break: A Prisoner Reflects; Crusoc tells Pluto a Story; Im Going Down: A
Prisoners Maso Manifesto; Laozi Talks with Crusoc; Fickle: An Altru Prisoner
Talks to a Sado One; Aristotle Weighs In; Rebellion: A Prisoner Reflects;
Crusoc Talks with Martin Luther King; 6 We Are Opposed; Strikeout: A Prisoner
Laments; Rousseau Accuses Crusoc; Bonnie and Clyde: Bonnie Says Goodbye;
Crusoc Pleads; Therapy: A Maso-Altru Convo; Freud talks with Crusoc; The End
of the Affair: Crusoc and Xan Plead; Hits and Misses: Pluto Describes
Crusocs Last Day; Xan Rebukes Pluto PART II Radicalism Reimagined 7 Where
Entro Is, Let Evo Be; We Can Fly: Darcemplato Tells Crusoc to Be Bold;
Anti-Matter: Emma Tells Crusoc to Be Careful 8 American Unfreedom; Bodiless
Programs: Crusoc Asks to Be Put on Trial; Darcemplato and Crusoc Discuss the
Bases for Self-Governing Communities; Were Equal: Crusoc Asserts Moral
Parity Between Ancient Athens and America and Calls for Different Camps to
Ally; Divergence: Crusoc Calls for Self-Governance; Darcemplato Expresses a
Reservation; Elite Secession: Emma G. Argues for Anarchy, Crusoc for
Regulation 9 Unser Ding; Are You Sorry? Marx and Nietzsche Reminisce;
Angela-Karl and Annalena-Friedrich Ask the Polis for Support; Germania:
Friedrich and Annalena Discuss Election Strategy; Rage: Nietzsche Keeps his
Mouth Shut with Hegel; Art: Darcemplato Wonders About the Limits of Cultural
Freedom 10 The President of the World; Populocracy: Nehru-Buddha and
Gandhi-Durga Discuss Their Chances in the Election; Medianocracy: Mao-Lao and
Chiang-Kong Strategize; Evocracy: Durga and Mao Answer Questions in a Debate;
Wrong: Jeferson Repents, in Part; Nehru, Buddha, and Durga Discuss the
Election Result 11 Neuropolitics; Fugazi: Crusoc Apologizes to the Jurors;
Us: Dwormarc and Darcemplato Argue, Xan Intervenes; Neurodivergence Rules:
Xan, Darcemplato, and Dwormarc Take Different Positions on Crusocs Trial;
The Verdict: Crusoc Asks for Forgiveness; Dwormarc, Darcemplato, Li Bai, and
Xan Weigh in; the Jury Decides PART III The Contribution of Critical Game
Theory 12 What Critical Game Theory Adds to Mainstream Game Theory, MGT Story
1: Which Passing Shot? MGT Story 2: The GPA Rat Race, MGT Story 3: "Which
Tire?" MGT Story 4: Why Are Professors So Mean? MGT Story 5: Roommates on the
Brink MGT Story 6: The Dating Game MGT Story 7: Commensurability MGT Story 8:
Transitivity MGT Story 9: No Money Pumps MGT Story 10: Independence MGT Story
11: Interchangeability MGT Story 12a: Randomization, Redux, Part 1 MGT Story
12b: Randomization, Redux, Part 2 MGT Story 12c: Randomization, Redux, Part 3
A Note on Kantian Randomization
Chapter Teaching/Learning Notes 13 Critical
Game Theory and Different Disciplines I. Econ: Philosophical Economics II.
Evo: History, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology III. Lit: Literary
Criticism, Literature, Psychology, Religion IV. Futures: Possible Directions
for CGT, Postlude
Wayne Eastman is Professor in the Supply Chain Management Department at Rutgers Business School, USA.
