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How Cooperation Can Evolve in a Cheater’s World
Brown University ^ | 29 June 2006 | Staff (press release)

Posted on 06/29/2006 4:40:30 PM PDT by PatrickHenry

click here to read article


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Everybody be nice.
1 posted on 06/29/2006 4:40:32 PM PDT by PatrickHenry
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To: VadeRetro; Junior; longshadow; RadioAstronomer; Doctor Stochastic; js1138; Shryke; RightWhale; ...
Evolution Ping

The List-O-Links
A conservative, pro-evolution science list, now with over 380 names.
See the list's explanation, then FReepmail to be added or dropped.
To assist beginners: But it's "just a theory", Evo-Troll's Toolkit,
and How to argue against a scientific theory.

2 posted on 06/29/2006 4:41:46 PM PDT by PatrickHenry (Unresponsive to trolls, lunatics, fanatics, retards, scolds, & incurable ignoramuses.)
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To: PatrickHenry

Good post! Thanks.


3 posted on 06/29/2006 4:42:13 PM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
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To: PatrickHenry

Rats! Missed beating the ping by less than a minute.


4 posted on 06/29/2006 4:42:56 PM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
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To: RadioAstronomer

What is this? Now we're going to try to be IB4TP?


5 posted on 06/29/2006 4:46:34 PM PDT by PatrickHenry (Unresponsive to trolls, lunatics, fanatics, retards, scolds, & incurable ignoramuses.)
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To: PatrickHenry
I think Freakonomics also said the same thing.
6 posted on 06/29/2006 4:47:31 PM PDT by King Moonracer
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To: PatrickHenry

The key to optimum survival seems to be a method to detect cheaters and avoid interacting with them. Cooperators interacting with cooperators will prosper. Cheaters cheating other cheaters will die off


7 posted on 06/29/2006 4:51:08 PM PDT by SauronOfMordor (A planned society is most appealing to those with the arrogance to think they will be the planners)
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To: PatrickHenry

Too cool.


8 posted on 06/29/2006 4:51:12 PM PDT by Junior (Identical fecal matter, alternate diurnal period)
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To: PatrickHenry
Yet cooperation is a hallmark of human society, allowing for the creation of everything from the local grange to the United Nations.

I am confused. Is the United Nations an example of people working cooperatively together for the common good or of a bunch of a parasites whose sole goal in life (other than picking up a taxpayer funded paycheck) is to prevent the fruits of liberty and capitalism from being spread throughout the world.

9 posted on 06/29/2006 4:54:09 PM PDT by vbmoneyspender
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To: vbmoneyspender

You must realize that the cooperators are also cheaters they have just figured out that cheating is more efficient when alot of people act together to cheat. Thus the UN is born


10 posted on 06/29/2006 4:55:46 PM PDT by Sentis (You said the world doesn't need salvation so why do I hear it calling out for a Savior.)
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To: vbmoneyspender
I am confused.

It's a press release from a Yankee university. I doubt that the UN is mentioned in the actual paper.

11 posted on 06/29/2006 4:56:29 PM PDT by PatrickHenry (Unresponsive to trolls, lunatics, fanatics, retards, scolds, & incurable ignoramuses.)
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To: vbmoneyspender

I'm reminded of New Orleans. Its citizens did not function as a cooperating small group, but looked to the State and Federal Governments. As a result, the cheaters bilked the intimidated FEMA Handout Brigade of billions and the city is still largely just undertaking the most rudimentary forms of rebuilding. Ditto with the UN. Power to the People - on the local level.


12 posted on 06/29/2006 4:59:55 PM PDT by Socratic ("I'll have the roast duck with the mango salsa.")
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To: PatrickHenry

Sounds like a load to me! Cooperation thrives so long as the group is kept small and cognition is not factored in? So communism and socialism won't work because it's too big or because it's incognitive?
Ayn Rand was right, self interest works and it isn't cheating!


13 posted on 06/29/2006 5:03:57 PM PDT by outofsalt ("If History teaches us anything it's that history rarely teaches us anything")
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To: vbmoneyspender
The original paper is here: Evolution in group-structured populations can resolve the tragedy of the commons. Without a subscription, I can't read anything but the abstract. The UN isn't mentioned. Gotta blame a Brown journalism major.
14 posted on 06/29/2006 5:04:55 PM PDT by PatrickHenry (Unresponsive to trolls, lunatics, fanatics, retards, scolds, & incurable ignoramuses.)
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To: PatrickHenry

The most cooperative species ever seen on earth are insects colony's...

They have no intellect.

Female mates once. All in the colony are females, are all sisters and no males are produced until the colony needs to split up...


15 posted on 06/29/2006 5:08:00 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED (The Internet is the samizdat of liberty..)
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To: PatrickHenry

Thanks for this article...I am especially grateful for this article, because in the third paragraph, the 'grange' is mentioned....in my area, the Pacific Northwest, there are two grange halls which are in terrible disrepair...probably because they are no longer being used...however, the one in a small town near here, is going to be restored, or repaired, because there is a new housing development going up just near the old grange, and the old grange looks so tacky...rather than tearing it down, the town has raised the funds to repair and fix up the old grange...which I think is a fine thing...granges may not be used much anymore, depending on where they are built, but they were an important part of the past, and as such, I am glad to see a town recognize its historic past, and willing to raise the money to restore the building...

There is another grange hall closer to me, which is currently in absolute disrepair...and I am hoping to find out via snail mail and emailings, if anything can be done to save this building...

In any case, my ramblings here, probably have nothing to do with the general subject matter of the thread, except that grange halls, did exist for many years, as a help to the farmers...farmers cooperating with one another for promoting common interests...

Anyway, thanks...its not too often that I see granges mentioned anywhere...


16 posted on 06/29/2006 5:08:11 PM PDT by andysandmikesmom
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To: andysandmikesmom
its not too often that I see granges mentioned anywhere...

I vaguely recall a mention of that movement in some long ago American history course, but I guess it's not much of an issue now.

17 posted on 06/29/2006 5:13:00 PM PDT by PatrickHenry (Unresponsive to trolls, lunatics, fanatics, retards, scolds, & incurable ignoramuses.)
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To: PatrickHenry

Is collaboration the same as cooperation? Why is self interest defined as cheating? This is nonsense.


18 posted on 06/29/2006 5:14:12 PM PDT by outofsalt ("If History teaches us anything it's that history rarely teaches us anything")
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To: PatrickHenry

I think with the loss of the small family farms, and other factors, granges no longer hold the importance that they once did....most of grange bldgs are no longer used, they just sit and decompose...

Tho I do recall a grange hall about halfway between where I live in Olympia, and on the way to Mt. Rainier, that seems to in fine shape, and actually does seem to be functioning in the small community where it is...tho I think it may be used kind of like a lodge hall, or wedding reception hall...
Still, I am glad to see the old bldg., getting some use...


19 posted on 06/29/2006 5:18:02 PM PDT by andysandmikesmom
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To: PatrickHenry

Isn't there a game theory example that is basically a variation of the game these guys used to demonstrate their theory. I'm thinking of the game where you have 2 players who can do 1 of 3 things when it is their turn. They can either hurt the other guy, or do nothing to the other guy, or help the other guy. Game theory says that to get the other guy to help you, you should mimic what he does. So if he hurts you, during your next turn you hurt him. Then if he does nothing, you do nothing. Eventually, if the other guy is rational, he will figure out that if he helps you everytime, you will help him everytime in return.


20 posted on 06/29/2006 5:19:17 PM PDT by vbmoneyspender
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