In general if you “defect” because you thought the other party would that is quite sketchy. But what if proof comes out they really were about to defect on you?
By the way, if we consider game theory and logic to be any relevant, then there’s a corollary of Löb’s Theorem: if you defect given proof that counterparty will defect, and another party will defect given proof that you will, then you both will, logically, defect against each other, with no choice in the matter. (And if you additionally declare that you cooperate given proof that partner will cooperate, you’ve just declared a logical contradiction.)
For packing this result into a “wise” phrase, I’d use words: Good is not a universally valid response to Evil. Evil is not a universally valid response to Evil either. Seek that which will bring about a Good equilibrium.
By the way, if we consider game theory and logic to be any relevant, then there’s a corollary of Löb’s Theorem: if you defect given proof that counterparty will defect, and another party will defect given proof that you will, then you both will, logically, defect against each other, with no choice in the matter. (And if you additionally declare that you cooperate given proof that partner will cooperate, you’ve just declared a logical contradiction.)
For packing this result into a “wise” phrase, I’d use words:
Good is not a universally valid response to Evil. Evil is not a universally valid response to Evil either. Seek that which will bring about a Good equilibrium.