[tortoise]

Is it in your rational self interest to become a murderer and a thief?

Generally not in any kind of game theoretic sense. Quite the opposite in fact.

[PatrickHenry]

I should think that in a game were everyone wants -- first of all -- to assure his own survival, and then to maximize his prosperity, the strategy of being a mass murderer wouldn't be all that smart. Such a player wouldn't be tolerated for very long. They can have brief streaks of apparent success, but in the long run it looks like a losing hand.