Jane Austen, game theorist
"Game theory--the study of how people make choices while interacting with others--is one of the most popular technical approaches in social science today. But as Michael Chwe reveals in his insightful new book, Jane Austen explored game theory's core ideas in her six novels roughly two hundred years ago. Jane Austen, Game Theorist shows how this beloved writer theorized choice and preferences, prized strategic thinking, argued that jointly strategizing with a partner is the surest foundation for intimacy, and analyzed why superiors are often strategically clueless about inferiors. With a diverse range of literature and folktales, this book illustrates the wide relevance of game theory and how, fundamentally, we are all strategic thinkers. Although game theory's mathematical development began in the Cold War 1950s, Chwe finds that game theory has earlier subversive historical roots in Austen's novels and in "folk game theory" traditions, including African American folktales. Chwe makes the case that these literary forebears are game theory's true scientific predecessors. He considers how Austen in particular analyzed "cluelessness"--The conspicuous absence of strategic thinking--and how her sharp observations apply to a variety of situations, including U.S. military blunders in Iraq and Vietnam. Jane Austen, Game Theorist brings together the study of literature and social science in an original and surprising way."--Publisher's website
Criticism, interpretation, etc
xii, 272 pages ; 24 cm
9780691155760, 9780691162447, 9781400846252, 0691155763, 0691162441, 1400846250
820123480
The argument
Game theory in context. Rational choice theory ; Game theory ; Strategic thinking ; How game theory is useful ; Criticisms ; Game theory and literature
Folktales and civil rights
Flossie and the fox
Jane Austen's six novels. Pride and prejudice ; Sense and sensibility ; Persuasion ; Northanger Abbey ; Mansfield Park ; Emma
Austen's foundations of game theory. Choice ; Preferences ; Revealed preferences ; Names for strategic thinking ; Strategic sophomores ; Eyes
Austen's competing models. Emotions ; Instincts ; Habits ; Rules ; Social factors ; Ideology ; Intoxication ; Constraints
Austen on what strategic thinking is not. Strategic thinking is not selfish ; Strategic thinking is not moralistic ; Strategic thinking is not economistic ; Strategic thinking is not about winning inconsequential games
Austen's innovations. Partners in strategic manipulation ; Strategizing about yourself ; Preference change ; Constancy
Austen on strategic thinking's disadvantages
Austen's intentions
Austen on cluelessness. Lack of natural ability ; Social distance ; Excessive self-reference ; High-status people are not supposed to enter the minds of low-status people ; Presumption sometimes work ; Decisive blunders
Real-world cluelessness. Cluelessness is easier ; Difficulty embodying low-status others ; Investing in social status ; Improving your bargaining position ; Empathy prevention ; Calling people animals
Concluding remarks