The Evolution of Cooperation
#1286 of 2,654 all-time
The Evolution of Cooperation
Robert Axelrod
5 people recommended it in 5 threads, 2007–2024.
What people on Hacker News said
How does co-operation work? What properties are required for co-operation? If I recall correctly it examines these questions from the scale of bacteria to nation states.
It's kind of CS-ish, but the real points are about how cooperation and "good behavior" can (a) occur without explicit communication and (b) be predictably self-beneficial in the long term even though exact paths to those benefits are unknown.
It puts in formal terms some common sense about interactions among self-interested individuals.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read? 2024 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why? 2017 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What are the books that changed the perspective of your life? 2015 · 1 recommendation
- Ask YC: favorite books 2007 · 1 recommendation
- What books would you recommend reading? Why? 2007 · 1 recommendation