Prisoner's dilemma

Prisoner's dilemma
ConceptGame Theory

A game theory thought experiment about cooperation and defection.

2.50Epic
No. 02847Kosmora

Epic

Prisoner's dilemma

  • Game Theory
  • Philosophical Paradoxes and Thought Experiments

The prisoner's dilemma is a game theory thought experiment involving two rational agents who may cooperate or defect. Although defection is rational for each agent individually, cooperation produces a higher payoff for both. Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher designed the puzzle in 1950 at the RAND Corporation. Albert W. Tucker later gave it its name by expressing the outcomes as prison sentences. Repeated versions can allow cooperation to emerge.

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Field
Game theory
Designed by
Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher
Name coined by
Albert W. Tucker
Sources and credits

Sources and credits

Article
Prisoner's dilemma (English Wikipedia)
Wikidata
Q41693
Text
Card text is adapted from the English Wikipedia article by an automated summary. Wikipedia content is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for its contributors. CC BY-SA 4.0 · Article history and contributors
Illustration
AI-generated illustration. Not a photograph or documentary image. (model: gpt-image-2)
Popularity
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