Sorry, I don’t understand. Since when was the loser the winner?
What I mean is when Individual A and Individual B agree on a solution to ruling State X those INDIVIDUALS are the winners—the individual is the unit of winner.
But simultaneously there is a game going on between State X and State Y. The resolution of the leadership contest between A and B may have been positive-sum at the level of the individuals involved but what about at the level of the State?
And if it is bad for the state then it is bad for the individuals so what appeared to be a positive-sum outcome was actually an illusion, due to the multi-level problem. This has yet to be addressed by anyone.
To recap my very general position: the essay is ideological, not scientific. The title says everything.
To recap my very general position: the essay is ideological, not scientific. The title says everything.
What does this mean? What do you mean by ideological and what do you mean by scientific? The point of Less Wrong is to be, well, less wrong. Is that an ideological goal? We like reducing cognitive biases and getting a better understanding of reality. Do you consider that to be ideological? And if this essay is ideological rather than scientific, why does that matter?
i misunderstood your post. The unit of winner is an individual—that seems pretty obvious in this context. Organizations don’t act, only individuals.
What I was talking about (and what I thought you were asking) was the group of people you use to judge whether the game is zero sum or not, and that is… All parties who gain or lose in the transaction.
And if it is bad for the state then it is bad for the individuals...
Just no. If hurting the state helps one individual gain more power over the state, it can certainly benefit that individual.
Sorry, I don’t understand. Since when was the loser the winner?
What I mean is when Individual A and Individual B agree on a solution to ruling State X those INDIVIDUALS are the winners—the individual is the unit of winner.
But simultaneously there is a game going on between State X and State Y. The resolution of the leadership contest between A and B may have been positive-sum at the level of the individuals involved but what about at the level of the State?
And if it is bad for the state then it is bad for the individuals so what appeared to be a positive-sum outcome was actually an illusion, due to the multi-level problem. This has yet to be addressed by anyone.
To recap my very general position: the essay is ideological, not scientific. The title says everything.
What does this mean? What do you mean by ideological and what do you mean by scientific? The point of Less Wrong is to be, well, less wrong. Is that an ideological goal? We like reducing cognitive biases and getting a better understanding of reality. Do you consider that to be ideological? And if this essay is ideological rather than scientific, why does that matter?
i misunderstood your post. The unit of winner is an individual—that seems pretty obvious in this context. Organizations don’t act, only individuals.
What I was talking about (and what I thought you were asking) was the group of people you use to judge whether the game is zero sum or not, and that is… All parties who gain or lose in the transaction.
Just no. If hurting the state helps one individual gain more power over the state, it can certainly benefit that individual.