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If you asked Nash what he thought of game theory if he was alive today, he would tell you it have very little to do with how most people interact with each othe

by mempko 11y ago

If you asked Nash what he thought of game theory if he was alive today, he would tell you it have very little to do with how most people interact with each other. It was said earlier. People get into contracts out of desperation or ignorance. Therefore there are contracts that are not mutually beneficial. Since the vast majority of the people of this world are desperate or ignorant, ethereum can become a frightening tool. Imagine this horrific scenario. It is the year 2030. Ethereum contracts can be written where a robot comes and steals your child for slavery automatically if you don't hold your end of the bargain. Even today people sell themselves to pay off debts. Ethereum would just be another tool creditors can use to enslave people.

ewzimm 11y ago
Game theory is usually presented as the science of human interaction, but I admit that I have no special knowledge about what Nash might think. I do think that individual interactions are very different from overall trends in the same way that the structure of how two grains of sand interact with each other is different from the structure of a beach as a whole. I have no doubt that every new technology invites exploitation, and you're right to think about the consequences. That's an essential part of the design process of any technology, especially one that's general useful. That's the reason why we have such complicated software licenses. But EvilCorp doesn't need smart contracts to send robots to steal your children. It will definitely use them if they're convenient, but they could just as easily go with the traditional human blood on dead trees contract that's ensnared many souls. Smart contracts add very little to their already efficient operation. But the people who can't afford to hire lawyers, bribe the police, and build robot armies will benefit a lot from enforceable contracts that don't require huge resources to enforce for purely digital transactions.

by mempko 11y ago

ewzimm 11y ago

Game theory is usually presented as the science of human interaction, but I admit that I have no special knowledge about what Nash might think. I do think that individual interactions are very different from overall trends in the same way that the structure of how two grains of sand interact with each other is different from the structure of a beach as a whole. I have no doubt that every new technology invites exploitation, and you're right to think about the consequences. That's an essential part of the design process of any technology, especially one that's general useful. That's the reason why we have such complicated software licenses. But EvilCorp doesn't need smart contracts to send robots to steal your children. It will definitely use them if they're convenient, but they could just as easily go with the traditional human blood on dead trees contract that's ensnared many souls. Smart contracts add very little to their already efficient operation. But the people who can't afford to hire lawyers, bribe the police, and build robot armies will benefit a lot from enforceable contracts that don't require huge resources to enforce for purely digital transactions.