game theory

[cuterebra]

I just started reading up on game theory a few days ago (there are a bunch of introductory lectures online at gametheory.net). It's fascinating stuff--it sort of systematizes intuitive thought, if that makes any sense. So many potential applications!

Anybody else read any? Seems like prime INTP stuff.

 

[warryer]

Uh oh I think you may have just occupied the rest of my day. I've heard about game theory before but never actively pursued learning something about it. I will have to read up before I post back.

 

[Vrecknidj]

I took a classes in college called Decision Theory. It was a blast. If I had no need to earn an income (and therefore had spare time) I would probably devote some of my leisure to developing a greater understanding of and knowledge of game theory.

Dave

 

[ifelloverboard]

What are you planning on applying it to or are you just reading up on it? It has useful applications in certain fields and there are times where it's a complete waste of time.

 

[cuterebra]

What are you planning on applying it to or are you just reading up on it? It has useful applications in certain fields and there are times where it's a complete waste of time.

Specifically, I was thinking of disease models for cancer and perhaps infectious disease. Much to my excitement, I am not the first person to think along these lines.

Obviously, it is just a tool, and tools can be worse than useless if used inappropriately. But it seems to me like a great way to approach certain problems that deal with population dynamics.

 

[Death]

Game theory and fractal is the two things in mathematics that I would like to learn,but my pre-requisite basic maths is still not strong enough...

 

[cuterebra]

You don't need a high level of math to understand most of the introductory stuff--much of it is actually quite simple.

 

[Selten]

@Death

Game theory is literally math-free. It's math-free. Free of math. No math at all. (The math you see all the time is only there to show off. Proving that game theorists can add and are indeed not mad.)

 

[Latte]

+1

 

[The Introvert]

Game theory is fun and applicable in most any situation.

I prefer to use it for biological systems, but you may feel otherwise.

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

Yeah, the looneys who came up with it are an interesting bunch.
Mutually assured destruction.

 

[BigApplePi]

Game theory. Is this what it is?

I can't be sure of what you will do. So if I do something I have to guess. But you will modify what you do depending on what I do. Therefore I have to guess not only what you are prone to do but how you will change by what I do. After I do it, I learn from what you did. Next time I can make a more educated guess. But is it really more educated or have I screwed up?

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

Game theory. Is this what it is?

I can't be sure of what you will do. So if I do something I have to guess. But you will modify what you do depending on what I do. Therefore I have to guess not only what you are prone to do but how you will change by what I do. After I do it, I learn from what you did. Next time I can make a more educated guess. But is it really more educated or have I screwed up?

More or less,
if you are interested, you should look into the John Forbes Nash case.
And by stating that i mean, delve deep into it.

 

[BigApplePi]

if you are interested, you should look into the John Forbes Nash case.

Wasn't that some broadly reaching economic principle? I wonder if it can be summarized simply?

 

[Mmmmmmmmmm]

The scary thing is, psychological exchanges are all about game theory

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

Wasn't that some broadly reaching economic principle? I wonder if it can be summarized simply?

I'm sure it could, but today I can't bothered to try.

There's an excellent documentary series on this subject by Adam Curtis.
You could use this as an introduction to the broader concepts.

The Trap: Fuck You Buddy (1/3 BBC)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fSCRxoEdj0

The Trap: The Lonely Robot (2/3 BBC)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBhJ9XHDKwg

The Trap: We Will Force You To Be Free (3/3 BBC)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeF5PY9bKgI

Sorry, I don't know what the exact BBCode to embed youtube into the post is.