Non-cooperative game theory in biology and cooperative reasoning in humans

Abstract

The readiness for spontaneous cooperation together with the assumptions that others share this cooperativity has been identified as a fundamental feature that distinguishes humans from other animals, including the great apes. At the same time, cooperativity presents an evolutionary puzzle because non-cooperators do better in a group of cooperators. We develop here an analysis of the process leading to cooperation in terms of rationality concepts, game theory and epistemic logic. We are, however, not attempting to reconstruct the actual evolutionary process. We rather want to provide the logical structure underlying cooperation in order to understand why cooperation is possible and what kind of reasoning and beliefs would lead to cooperative decision-making. Game theory depends on an underlying common belief in non-cooperative rationality of the players, and cooperativity similarly can utilize a common belief in cooperative rationality as its basis. We suggest a weaker concept of rational decision-making in games that encompasses both types of decision-making. We build this up in stages, starting from simple optimization, then using anticipation of the reaction of others, to finally arrive at reflexive and cooperative reasoning. While each stage is more difficult than the preceding, importantly, we also identify a reduction of complexity achieved by the consistent application of higher stage reasoning.

Game theory and strategy in medical training

“…Game theory provides useful models for strategic interactions that commonly occur in medical training and practice. Physicians encounter situations every day that pit individual rationality against the human condition and the greater good, and to do their job, they must find ways to prioritise the greater good over individual gain . Although no model can perfectly account for the idiosyncrasies of human personalities, game theory serves as a useful framework for analysing interdependent strategic behaviour in a variety of health care related situations.…”

“…Physicians encounter situations every day that pit individual rationality against the human condition and the greater good, and to do their job, they must find ways to prioritise the greater good over individual gain. 55,79 Although no model can perfectly account for the idiosyncrasies of human personalities, game theory serves as a useful framework for analysing interdependent strategic behaviour in a variety of health care related situations. Using game theory as an integrative tool, in conjunction with good judgement and a sound knowledge base, trainees and physicians can work to better recognise where competing priorities exist and understand the motivations and interactions of the various players, which can affect their ability to provide the best possible patient care.…”

“…Learning some negotiation techniques in the context of game theory can add to educators’ and students’ capacity to further both their own interests and those of the greater good. Finally, research into the biological and neural bases of decision‐making has the potential to add significantly to our understanding of how and why players act the way they do …”

“…Finally, research into the biological and neural bases of decision-making has the potential to add significantly to our understanding of how and why players act the way they do. [55][56][57] Game theory has been applied to strategic interactions in other areas of medicine as well. The Prisoner's Dilemma has been used as a foundational principle of the National Resident Matching Program in the United States.…”

A simple game-theoretic model for upstream fish migration

“…The model focuses on prolonged swimming behavior of fishes rather than burst ones, the latter being relevant for much shorter timescale. Game-theoretic models have extensively been utilized for ecological and biophysical modelling of animals (Kabalak et al 2015;Mariani et al 2016;Metz et al 1992;Pereira and Martinez 2010;Riechert and Hammerstein 1983;Tanaka et al 2011); however, application of such models to biophysics of fish migration is still rare. The variables to be optimized in the present model contain the swimming speed and school size that should be chosen by the fish school, so that the net cost of migration is minimized.…”