Moral Calculations

What does game theory tell us about rational behavior? Is there such a thing as rational behavior, and if so, is it of any use to us? In this fascinating book, reknowned Hungarian economist Laszlo Mero shows how game theory illuminates such aspects of human psychology as altruism, competition, and politics, as well as its relevance to disparate fields such as physics and evolutionary biology. He concludes by comparing the roles of rationality and irrationality in what we call "wisdom." This wonderful book is for everyone who wonders what mathematics can tell us about the human condition.

Inhalt
Games of Morality.- 1. Auction and Posing.- 2. The Brute as Hero.- 3. The Prisoner's Dilemma.- 4. The Golden Rule.- 5. The Bluff.- The Sources of Diversity.- 6. John von Neumann's Game Theory.- 7. Competition for a Common Goal.- 8. Hawks and Doves.- 9. Socialism and Free Enterprise.- 10. Games Elementary Particles Play.- The Psychology of Rationality.- 11. Loves Me, Loves Me Not.- 12. Rational Irrationality.- 13. Collective Rationality.- 14. The Heterogeneity of Human Thought.- 15. There Are Many Ways to Nirvana.- References and Further Reading.