We learned about mathematics ever since we started going to school. We studied it every year as a subject, as saw it as it was – a subject taught in school. For us, mathematics was basically a scientific discipline that existed only in the realms of the four walled classrooms. We never really saw mathematics as a discipline that existed outside the classroom. Sure numbers and arithmetic helps us from time to time, but that’s it. The rest of mathematics has been locked up as we left it in the classrooms. I mean, why should we bother with mathematics? We live in a very competitive world that teaches us that if you can’t keep swimming, sooner or later you would have to sink in the deep abyss of the ocean. We disregard mathematics because to us, it has no aid in surviving this competitive world. To us, it is a mere subject that deals with numbers and thus can never aid us in deciding which path to take in order to survive.
But the book “Rock, Paper, Scissors” tells us the contrary. It tells us that mathematics do exists outside the classrooms. It tells us that mathematics, especially game theory, can help us in the different situations of our lives, especially in decision making.
Rock Paper Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life is a mathematical book written by the physicist and Nobel Prize winner, Len Fisher. This book is an introductory course about what game theory is and how it’s various situations can be applied to problems that we deal in the real word. The topic on game theory varies widely and can be applied to everyday situations. Fisher also cites actual incidents where these topics can be applied. The book also works through various solutions to many of the common dilemmas that people encounter when dealing with other people. And these solutions aren’t just mere opinions of how these problems can be solved; rather they are real solutions with mathematical proofs. (Gotch, N., 2010)
Basically, this book explains to us what game theory is and how this game theory can be utilized to promote cooperation among individuals, communities and even nations. (Kaara, 2009) Right from the beginning, Fisher says that this book is concerned with the part of game theory that “concerns cooperation rather than confrontation, collaboration rather than competition.” According to one of the reviews: “Accordingly his conclusion, that “individuals can make a difference,” applies mostly to daily collective active problems that annoy individuals, rather than the longer-scale ones that drastically compound human suffering over the course of decades.” (socialventures.org, n.d.) Thus he relates the concept of game theory to be utilized in a way that can promote an environment that favors cooperation and collaboration. He stresses in the book that if we could find ways to trust each other, we could find win-win solutions to many the serious problems that we all face.
First, the book tells us what game theory is concerned about. Game theory, according to this book is the study of strategic decisions in situations where the results of strategies depend on other participants’ strategies. (em-and-emm.blogspot.com, 2011) It is concerned basically with decision making when the decision making individual/s are confronted with competitive situations, especially when they have limited information about the other party’s choices. It is also said that for every competitive situation, there is a point called a Nash Equilibrium, in which parties cannot change their course of action without sabotaging themselves. And according to Fisher, situation can actually be arranged in such a way that the Nash Equilibrium provides the best possible outcome for everyone. And to relate it to cooperation, fisher examines how social norms and people’s view of fair play can effect into cooperative solutions rather than competitive ones. (publishersweekly.com, 2008) This means that game theory looks at how we maximize our gain in competitive situations because game theory assumes that it is self-interest that controls how people decide. (Dixon A., 2008)
The book also demonstrates the limits of game theory, saying that “what is best for you isn’t always best for everyone else” and this discrepancy can undermine your own self-interest. (Dixon A., 2008) Aside from this, the book also looks at game theory as a concept that investigates the motives and dilemmas of social interactions relative to selfishness and cooperation. Thus, we know game theory we can then increase our chances of finding and satisfying resolutions by adopting new strategies. (Benjamin, 2010)
In the book, Fisher also gives tips that can be applied to some situations that we might encounter. These are (these are list in a form of verbatim from a review by Benjamin on October 22, 2010 in goodreads.com)
1. Keep the same strategy if you’re winning, shift strategies if you lose.
2. Bring a third player in. They can be a known negotiator or a known cheater – either way it helps.
3. Set up reciprocity. Knowing that you’ll deal with people after a conflict can increase the incentive to cooperate.
4. Limit future options or provide incentives. This shows that you are committed to the best possible outcomes.
5. Offer trust. It’s simple, but it can be effective.
6. Create a situation from which neither party can escape from without loss.
7. Use side-payments to maintain cooperation.
8. Know the seven deadly dilemmas and avoid the worst outcomes:
a. The Prisoner’s Dilemma – all must cooperate or all fail.
b. The Tragedy of the Commons (a series of Prisoner's Dilemmas) –self-interest prevents cooperation despite impending long-term failure.
c. The Free Rider problem - people taking advantage of a community resource without contributing to it.
d. Chicken/Brinkmanship - each side tries to push the other as close to the edge as they can, with each hoping that the other will back down first.
e. The Volunteer’s Dilemma - someone must make a sacrifice on behalf of the group, but if no one does, then everyone loses out.
f. The Battle of the Sexes - two people have different preferences, but each would rather share the other's company than pursue their own preference alone.
g. Stag Hunt - cooperation between members of a group gives them a good chance of success in a risky, high-return venture, but an individual can win a guaranteed but lower reward by breaking the cooperation and going it alone.
9. Work to create transparent processes that are inherently fair.
10. Favor smaller groups, it’s easier to foster trust and cooperation
(Benjamin, 2010)
And lastly, the book is not only rich in content but in examples as well, as Fisher uses these examples to demonstrate the points stated. We see how Fisher uses simple anecdotes, drawing experiences from his personal life and others’ to illustrate how game theory works. These experiences ranges from the experiences he has with drivers, women he meets while in the bar, his family and relatives. (socialventures.org, n.d.)
This book is an epitome of an introductory guide to decision making. Though it deals with mathematics, yet it connects this mathematics to real situations that exist outside its realm. It connects mathematics, through game theory, to aiding us in making better decisions for ourselves, for the society and for all mankind.
Individual. (Decision) Mathematics, specifically game theory, aids in individual decision making. The key word here is decision. Through mathematics, we become better decision makers. We may have lots of friends that aid us in decision making, but we have to admit, by the end of the day it will just be us, our selves that we can count on. Especially in the era of competitiveness where everyone wants to be somebody and to step up in the social ladder, we realize that our only ally is our selves. And this book had shown us that mathematics can help us see things clearer. It helps us realize that mathematics is a tool which we can use to view all the possible solutions and the best solution to choose that will not compromise our own position. We realize that mathematics actually helps us survive by becoming individuals that makes decision better.
Society. (Cooperation) Through this book, we are able to see that mathematics can actually unite a society together. We see that through mathematics, there can exist cooperation because in certain situation, it is best that we seek interest that will benefit all the involved parties. If we become better decision makers, we can choose not only to uplift our individuality but also of our society. Let’s admit that we view our society as a group in which we belong, and as part of belonging, we will always choose what is best and what is best for our group. And through this book, we see that mathematics is not only a subject, nor is it only for ourselves but we see mathematics as much bigger, something that can uplift our society. We see it as something that can help us improve our society through the cooperation that is reflected in our decision making. The key here is cooperation. Because we are better decision makers, we will always pursue cooperation. That way not only will the self-interest be met, but of the group in which we belong with as well.
All mankind. (Unselfishness) This book aims for collaboration and cooperation instead of competitiveness. And though we live in a very competitive world, none of us actually wants it. We were just born in a society that views competitiveness as a drive to survive. But do we really want it? The answer is no. We would all want something less extreme, something that doesn’t make us go crazy and something that will allow us to become less selfish. Let’s face it; living in a competitive world opens the door to selfishness. We all want to win, nobody wants to lose. And sometimes we even forget our humanity for the sake of idea of winning and being on top. But through this book we can see that it doesn’t have to be that way. Mathematics is a tool to aid us not to become selfish but to be better. That if we become better decision makers, we would choose to cooperate and if we choose to cooperate we become unselfish for we see that by being unselfish we help ease the pressure and the tension that builds up because of the concept of competition.
“Swim or sink.” That’s what we always here. We have to swim in order to survive this very competitive world. But swimming doesn’t have to lead us in a direction of becoming bad decision makers or unselfish people. Rather if we really want to swim, we will have to take the courage to admit to ourselves that sooner or later we would get tired and would sink eventually. If we really want to swim we have to admit that we can do it better if we choose better and if we cooperate better. This means that we have to look for aid that can help us survive the heavy waves of the ocean. And this aid could be mathematics. But it doesn’t end there for mathematics actually lends itself for us to become better decision makers that will pursue cooperation through being unselfish.
And who knew that the mathematics we have always disregarded as a mere subject in school could teach us not only to become better individuals, society but to become a better world.
Reference
Gotch, N. (2010, April 16). Rock, Paper Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life by Len Fisher [Review of the book Rock, Paper Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life]. goodreads. Retrieved February 28, 2014 from http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3106009-rock-paper-scissors
Benjamin. (2010, October 22).Rock, Paper Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life by Len Fisher [Review of the book Rock, Paper Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life]. goodreads. Retrieved February 28, 2014 from http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3106009-rock-paper-scissors
Kaara. (2009,July 18). Rock, Paper Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life by Len Fisher [Review of the book Rock, Paper Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life]. goodreads. Retrieved February 28, 2014 from http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3106009-rock-paper-scissors
Book Review: ‘Rock Paper Scissors — Game Theory in Everyday Life’. (n.d.). In Social Ventures for Sustainability. Retrieved February 28, 2014 from http://socialventures.org/book-review-rock-paper-scissors-game-theory-in-everyday-life/
Rock, Paper, Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life. (2008, September 22). In Publishers Weekly. Retrieved February 28, 2014 from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-465-00938-1
Rock, Paper, Scissors by Len Fisher. (2011, June 13). In Em and Emm Expound on Exposition Emma and Emily review books!. Retrieved February 28, 2014 from http://em-and-emm.blogspot.com/2011/06/rock-paper-scissors-by-len-fisher.html
Dixon A. (2008, December 1). Book Review: Rock, Paper, Scissors [Review of the book Rock, Paper Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life]. Greater Good The Science of a Meaningful Life. Retrieved February 28, 2014 from http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/book_review_rock_paper_scissors
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