The Game's Afoot! : Game Theory in Myth and Paradox

In the 1950s, von Neumann and Morgenstern's theory of games and economic behaviour created a new area of mathematics concerned with the formal problems of rational decision as experienced by multiple agents. In the 21st century, game theory is all around us. Here, Mehlmann presents mathematical foundations and concepts illustrated via social quandaries, mock political battles, evolutionary confrontations, economic struggles, and literary conflict. Most of the standard models - the prisoners' dilemma, the arms race, evolution, duels, the game of chicken, etc. - are here. Many non-standard examples are also here: the Legend of Faust, shootouts in the movies, the madness of Odysseus, to name a few.