Game Theory and the Social Contract. Volume 1

Author: Ken Binmore
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: In this book, Ken Binmore argues that game theory provides a systematic tool for exploring ethical issues. By reinterpreting classical social contract theory within the framework of game theory, he offers new insights into fundamental questions of social philosophy. He begins by clearing the path for this ambitious endeavor through a discussion of basic issues, particularly the problems arising from the recent introduction of game theory into social philosophy. Ken Binmore elucidates how to form a comprehensive theory consistent with modern non-cooperative game theory from the classic works of Harsanyi and Rawls. In the process, he identifies logical flaws in other methods of analyzing social cooperation and coordination proposed by figures such as Rousseau, Kant, Gauthier, and Nozick, convincingly demonstrating that much of the existing literature contains incorrect analyses of irrelevant games. The book makes the ideas of game theory accessible and comprehensible even to those with little prior knowledge. The content is presented using numerous simple examples, with the use of mathematics minimized. Professor Ken Binmore is a professor of economics at the London School of Economics. His previous works include Economics as a Game, The Economics of Bargaining, Essays on the Foundations of Game Theory, Fun and Games, and a graduate textbook on game theory.