133. Game Theory & Power Structures | THUNK
Channel: THUNK
Date: 2017-12-14

Power structures: Hobbes thought we'd murder each other w/o 'em, but there's a great game-theoretic reason, too!

NOTE: Sorry this episode is so late - there have been electrical troubles at THUNK studios. :(

-Links for the Curious-

"Meditations on Moloch," one of the primary inspirations for this whole episode - http://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/ 

I also borrowed heavily from Kenneth N. Waltz's "Theory of International Politics."

Beyond the Prisoners' Dilemma: Coordination, Game Theory, and Law - http://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2648&context=journal_articles

The 10 Catanmendments (NOTE: The first Catanmendment rightly assumes the eventual collapse of cooperative strategies, & illustrates the failure mode of specialized alliances -
 when you see an "ally" building over to the resource you're specializing in, they're diversifying so they don't need you quite so much, in preparation to dump you.) - http://www.settlersstrategy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/catanmentsshirt.png

A fun sci-fi book about an intergalactic empire built specifically in this fashion - https://smile.amazon.com/Collapsing-Empire-John-Scalzi-ebook/dp/B01F20E7CO?sa-no-redirect=1

A set of responses from anarcho-capitalist philosopher Roderick T. Long, including point 2, defending an-cap's capability to achieve coordination without the state - https://mises.org/sites/default/files/longanarchism.pdf