5 ms·

A Brief Introduction to the Basics of Game Theory

181 points by sushicalculus 6y ago

nsriv 6y ago
These Game Theory MOOCs have been really useful to me, but the link in the paper is outdated. The courses are available here: https://web.stanford.edu/~jacksonm/courses.html https://web.stanford.edu/~jacksonm/courses.html
- sushicalculus 6y ago
  The page you provided links to Matthew's article (which is what I posted)
- patrec 6y ago
  I'd be curious to hear how they have been useful to you: just in teaching you about the topic for curiosity's sake, or in achieving some practical outcome?
airstrike 6y ago
Layman's question: are there programming languages that are particularly well-suited for modeling games?
- montenegrohugo 6y ago
  Depends on what you want. Just want to map the maths to code? Python is a good choice. Easy to understand and visualize too. But Game Theory models can easily blow up in huge n-dimensional matrices very quick, so performance can be an issue. You might be tempted to go to something like C. But then again, Python has numpy.
optimalsolver 6y ago
"Is Game Theory Useful?" (2012) [0] [0] https://agtb.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/is-game-theory-useful/ https://agtb.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/is-game-theory-useful/
- goldenManatee 6y ago
  Having minored in this, I’d put it in the category of “abstract framework” at the moment. Though perhaps that’s also due to my exposure more to theory and math, and less to application.
unemphysbro 6y ago
I sat though this algo game theory class while I was at UIUC. https://courses.engr.illinois.edu/cs598rm/fa2019/schedule.html https://courses.engr.illinois.edu/cs598rm/fa2019/schedule.ht... I really enjoyed it.
nosuchthing 6y ago
This paper is funny if you actually understand game theory because you can see how the author either chose to withhold key applicable information for applied game theory or inadequately researched famous game theory principles and developments. This is a much easier and more realistic introduction to game theory principles: https://ncase.me/trust/ https://ncase.me/trust/ Game theory is often explained as a math problem involving humans and a specific scenario that requires a choice, from humans. The scenarios are fun thought experiments and about as useful as the famous trolley problem [1][2] In reality humans have many more variables affecting decisions than the pure rational equations can clearly define. Often the undefined variables are within the context of communication theory and reputation or auditing systems. In the case of the famous prisoners dilemma, the real solution is establishing a secret out of band communication channel prior to the dilemma, alongside a known reputation and retaliation penalty for abusing the mutual trust.[3] [4] The famous "tragedy of the commons" rational resource optimization game is often cited as justification for machiavellian exploitation, yet humans being social creatures are subject to reputations, and have sophisticated communication, cooperation, and retaliation abilities. [4] Elinor Ostrom's "Rules, games, and common-pool resources" and Robert Axelrod's work "The Evolution of Cooperation" both explain game theory in the context of human scale realities. Of particular interest to the hacker community would be Ostrom's Common Pool Resource principles, which are applicable to adhoc decentralized communities. :) At the core of game theory, and human civilization is communication and trust. The abuse of mass media to manipulate populations knows the power of communication and cultural narratives, and we're witnessing what's often described in terms such as "hypernormalization" or "accelerationism" [6][7][8][9] For a better applicable human scale game theory primer, check out Bruce Schneier's (yes, the same legendary cryptographer Bruce), "Liars and Outliers" https://www.schneier.com/books/liars-and-outliers https://www.schneier.com/books/liars-and-outliers [1] https://medium.com/@sarabizarro/the-trolley-problem-now-903adaa295e9 https://medium.com/@sarabizarro/the-trolley-problem-now-903a... [2] https://old.reddit.com/r/trolleyproblem/top/?sort=top&t=all https://old.reddit.com/r/trolleyproblem/top/?sort=top&t=all [3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0qjK3TWZE8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0qjK3TWZE8 [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elinor_Ostrom#Design_principles_for_Common_Pool_Resource_(CPR)_institution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elinor_Ostrom#Design_principle... [5] https://www.stuartmcmillen.com/blog/amusing-ourselves-to-death/ https://www.stuartmcmillen.com/blog/amusing-ourselves-to-dea... Neil Postman's "Amusing Ourselves to Death" [6] on Cybernetics and the 20th century "All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace" by Adam Curtis https://thoughtmaybe.com/all-watched-over-by-machines-of-loving-grace/ https://thoughtmaybe.com/all-watched-over-by-machines-of-lov... [7] on propaganda and 20th century culture "The Century of the Self" by Adam Curtis https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-century-of-the-self/ https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-century-of-the-self/ [8] on the hyperreal news and the use of crisis to manipulate populations "Hypernormalization" by Adam Curtis https://thoughtmaybe.com/hypernormalisation/ https://thoughtmaybe.com/hypernormalisation/ [9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerationism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerationism
movedx 6y ago
What level of maths is required to understand this paper?
- foxtr0t 6y ago
  There is some notation you must know (product, sum, set, etc) but the math is very straightforward, which makes sense, game theory in its most basic form is relatively straightforward logic that one can reason through with needing complex mathematical tools or abstractions.
  - odomojuli 6y ago
    Ditto on this. Game theory is what people put into practice through play. Any rules more complex than being turn-by-turn decisions or game-length strategy tend to not find their way into interesting models.
    - movedx 6y ago
      Thank you both. My maths is weak. Very weak. I tried using Khan Academy but because I don't have a use for the knowledge as a DevOps engineer it fades quickly.
zrkrlc 6y ago
For a math-lite game theory guide from Scott Alexander himself: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/QxZs5Za4qXBegXCgu/introduction-to-game-theory-sequence-guide https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/QxZs5Za4qXBegXCgu/introducti...

181 points by sushicalculus 6y ago

These Game Theory MOOCs have been really useful to me, but the link in the paper is outdated. The courses are available here: https://web.stanford.edu/~jacksonm/courses.html https://web.stanford.edu/~jacksonm/courses.html

sushicalculus 6y ago
The page you provided links to Matthew's article (which is what I posted)
patrec 6y ago
I'd be curious to hear how they have been useful to you: just in teaching you about the topic for curiosity's sake, or in achieving some practical outcome?

airstrike 6y ago

Layman's question: are there programming languages that are particularly well-suited for modeling games?

montenegrohugo 6y ago
Depends on what you want. Just want to map the maths to code? Python is a good choice. Easy to understand and visualize too. But Game Theory models can easily blow up in huge n-dimensional matrices very quick, so performance can be an issue. You might be tempted to go to something like C. But then again, Python has numpy.

optimalsolver 6y ago

"Is Game Theory Useful?" (2012) [0] [0] https://agtb.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/is-game-theory-useful/ https://agtb.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/is-game-theory-useful/

goldenManatee 6y ago
Having minored in this, I’d put it in the category of “abstract framework” at the moment. Though perhaps that’s also due to my exposure more to theory and math, and less to application.

unemphysbro 6y ago

I sat though this algo game theory class while I was at UIUC. https://courses.engr.illinois.edu/cs598rm/fa2019/schedule.html https://courses.engr.illinois.edu/cs598rm/fa2019/schedule.ht... I really enjoyed it.

nosuchthing 6y ago

This paper is funny if you actually understand game theory because you can see how the author either chose to withhold key applicable information for applied game theory or inadequately researched famous game theory principles and developments. This is a much easier and more realistic introduction to game theory principles: https://ncase.me/trust/ https://ncase.me/trust/ Game theory is often explained as a math problem involving humans and a specific scenario that requires a choice, from humans. The scenarios are fun thought experiments and about as useful as the famous trolley problem [1][2] In reality humans have many more variables affecting decisions than the pure rational equations can clearly define. Often the undefined variables are within the context of communication theory and reputation or auditing systems. In the case of the famous prisoners dilemma, the real solution is establishing a secret out of band communication channel prior to the dilemma, alongside a known reputation and retaliation penalty for abusing the mutual trust.[3] [4] The famous "tragedy of the commons" rational resource optimization game is often cited as justification for machiavellian exploitation, yet humans being social creatures are subject to reputations, and have sophisticated communication, cooperation, and retaliation abilities. [4] Elinor Ostrom's "Rules, games, and common-pool resources" and Robert Axelrod's work "The Evolution of Cooperation" both explain game theory in the context of human scale realities. Of particular interest to the hacker community would be Ostrom's Common Pool Resource principles, which are applicable to adhoc decentralized communities. :) At the core of game theory, and human civilization is communication and trust. The abuse of mass media to manipulate populations knows the power of communication and cultural narratives, and we're witnessing what's often described in terms such as "hypernormalization" or "accelerationism" [6][7][8][9] For a better applicable human scale game theory primer, check out Bruce Schneier's (yes, the same legendary cryptographer Bruce), "Liars and Outliers" https://www.schneier.com/books/liars-and-outliers https://www.schneier.com/books/liars-and-outliers [1] https://medium.com/@sarabizarro/the-trolley-problem-now-903adaa295e9 https://medium.com/@sarabizarro/the-trolley-problem-now-903a... [2] https://old.reddit.com/r/trolleyproblem/top/?sort=top&t=all https://old.reddit.com/r/trolleyproblem/top/?sort=top&t=all [3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0qjK3TWZE8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0qjK3TWZE8 [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elinor_Ostrom#Design_principles_for_Common_Pool_Resource_(CPR)_institution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elinor_Ostrom#Design_principle... [5] https://www.stuartmcmillen.com/blog/amusing-ourselves-to-death/ https://www.stuartmcmillen.com/blog/amusing-ourselves-to-dea... Neil Postman's "Amusing Ourselves to Death" [6] on Cybernetics and the 20th century "All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace" by Adam Curtis https://thoughtmaybe.com/all-watched-over-by-machines-of-loving-grace/ https://thoughtmaybe.com/all-watched-over-by-machines-of-lov... [7] on propaganda and 20th century culture "The Century of the Self" by Adam Curtis https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-century-of-the-self/ https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-century-of-the-self/ [8] on the hyperreal news and the use of crisis to manipulate populations "Hypernormalization" by Adam Curtis https://thoughtmaybe.com/hypernormalisation/ https://thoughtmaybe.com/hypernormalisation/ [9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerationism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerationism

movedx 6y ago

What level of maths is required to understand this paper?

foxtr0t 6y ago
There is some notation you must know (product, sum, set, etc) but the math is very straightforward, which makes sense, game theory in its most basic form is relatively straightforward logic that one can reason through with needing complex mathematical tools or abstractions.
- odomojuli 6y ago
  Ditto on this. Game theory is what people put into practice through play. Any rules more complex than being turn-by-turn decisions or game-length strategy tend to not find their way into interesting models.
  - movedx 6y ago
    Thank you both. My maths is weak. Very weak. I tried using Khan Academy but because I don't have a use for the knowledge as a DevOps engineer it fades quickly.

zrkrlc 6y ago

For a math-lite game theory guide from Scott Alexander himself: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/QxZs5Za4qXBegXCgu/introduction-to-game-theory-sequence-guide https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/QxZs5Za4qXBegXCgu/introducti...