Cooperation in a Competitive

Environment

Supervisee: John Richter

Supervisor: Philip Sterne

Pre-Contents Explanation

The manner in which this presentation shall be given shall adhere to the well-known Scientific Method

As such, it may differ from the presentation norms

Contents

Section -1: Explanation of Scientific Method use

Section 0: Contents Section 1: Characterization Section 2: Hypothesis Section 3: Prediction Section 4: Experimentation Section 5: Conclusions

Section 1: Characterization

This, according to Wikipedia.org, can be defined as “a careful characterization of the subject of the investigation”

Characterization: The act of describing distinctive characteristics or essential features

Section 1: Characterization

To characterize: The agents

Making use of a hybridisation of ANNs, GAs, and RL The game

Greediness pays, but cooperation is sustainable

Section 1: Characterization

Derived Characterization: Game Rules:

Two kinds of food Specialization

Agent Rules: Donations, generosity Deception and trust

Section 2: Hypothesis

This researcher hypothesizes that despite independence and greed being possible, a society of sufficiently intelligent agents programmed with simple rules will display cooperation as a form of emergent behaviour.

Section 3: Prediction

This researcher predicts: Emergent cooperation

See Reynolds, C. Boids. http://www.red3d.com/cwr/boids/index.html

‘Sub-cultures’ Early high-death rates, followed by long-term

stability Eventual negligent amounts of deception ‘Hunters’ and ‘Gatherers’ forming regular trade

partnerships

Section 4: Experimentation

The present progress extends mostly into this phase

Progress into components: ANN - 99.9% GA - 100% RL - 0%

Other (Hybrid, etc.) - 0%

Section 5: Conclusions

Watch this space, and final write-up for more!

Final Notes

This research falls into the category of MAS (Multi-Agent Simulation), and more specifically, MASS (Multi-Agent Social Simulation).

One of the chief authors in this field, which this researcher highly recommends reading, is Cristiano Castelfranchi

Questions

For all those who would like an alternative to questions, the following haiku has been selected as one of particular quality. This researcher hopes you enjoy it:

In the falling snow

A laughing boy holds out his palms

Until they are white