There are two well-developed philosophical theories that try to characterize what it means to make choices rationally. One is decision theory, which considers the position of one agent choosing between several alternatives, with varying levels of information about factors that might influence the resulting outcomes. The other is game theory, which provides techniques for analyzing interactions among several rational agents.
This course explains the fundamentals of these two theories and relevant background concepts such as probability and utility. We also explore paradoxical situations where the theories appear to clash with ordinary intuitions about rationality. We will consider applications throughout the course, with emphasis on social applications of game theory, and conclude with an introduction to evolutionary game theory and a discussion of Skyrms’ book, Evolution of the Social Contract.
Students who take this course should feel comfortable with technical work. I recommend having taken Phil 120 (Critical Thinking), Phil 125 (Scientific Reasoning), Phil 220 (Logic), or any introductory-level course in mathematics, computer science or economics. Please speak to me if you have any concerns about this aspect of the course.