Publisher Description

The purpose of this book is to develop a framework for analyzing strategic rationality, a notion central to contemporary game theory, which is the formal study of the interaction of rational agents, and which has proved extremely fruitful in economics, political theory, and business management. The author argues that a logical paradox (known since antiquity as "the Liar paradox") lies at the root of a number of persistent puzzles in game theory, in particular those concerning rational agents who seek to establish some kind of reputation. Building on the work of Parsons, Burge, Gaifman, and Barwise and Etchemendy, Robert Koons constructs a context-sensitive solution to the whole family of Liar-like paradoxes, including, for the first time, a detailed account of how the interpretation of paradoxial statements is fixed by context. This analysis provides a new understanding of how the rational agent model can account for the emergence of rules, practices, and institutions.

Table of Contents

Preface; Introduction; The Scope of Paradox; The Significance of Paradox; Part I. Paradoxes; 1. Doxic paradoxes without self-reference; 2. Doxic paradoxes and reputation effects in iterated games; 3. A study of liar-like epistemic paradoxes; 4. A computational account of mutual belief; 5. A critique of context-insensitive solutions to the liar paradox; 6. Three context-sensitive solutions to the liar paradox; 7. Applying the context-sensitive solutions to doxic paradox; Conclusion; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.

Review

"The approach is powerful, original, and very substantial from an intellectual point of view. The work seems to me deeper and better thought through than the vast majority of work in this area." Tyler Burge, University of California, Los Angeles

Promotional

This book develops a framework for analysing strategic rationality, a notion central to contemporary game theory.

Review Quote

"The approach is powerful, original, and very substantial from an intellectual point of view. The work seems to me deeper and better thought through than the vast majority of work in this area." Tyler Burge, University of California, Los Angeles

Promotional "Headline"

This book develops a framework for analysing strategic rationality, a notion central to contemporary game theory.

Description for Bookstore

The author argues that a logical paradox lies at the root of a number of persistent puzzles in game theory, in particular those concerning rational agents who seek to establish some kind of reputation. This analysis provides an understanding of how the rational agent model can account for the emergence of rules, practices and institutions.

Description for Library

The author argues that a logical paradox lies at the root of a number of persistent puzzles in game theory, in particular those concerning rational agents who seek to establish some kind of reputation. This analysis provides an understanding of how the rational agent model can account for the emergence of rules, practices and institutions.

Details