Game Theory Course Introduction

The study of human cooperation is in contrast to the competition that is the norm in most primate groups. Social interaction is a complex phenomenon, and humans form vast, complex systems of cooperation. The study of these systems is called game theory, which is the formal study of situations of interdependence between adaptive agents and the dynamics of cooperation and competition that emerge out of them. Game theory is a mainstream tool for researchers in many areas, but classical game theory’s limitations are now well-known. This course will introduce classical game theory, its limitations, and new developments within the field, such as evolutionary and network game theory. The course has four sections: an overview of game theory; non-cooperative games; cooperation; and evolutionary game theory. The last section looks at how games play out over time and how game theory has been generalised to whole populations.