Conversation As A Plus-Sum Game

----- By J. L. Speranza, F. R. S. (failed), &c.
------------ For the Grice Club.

----- IN A MOST ENGAGING DIALOGUE BETWEEN Kramer and R. B. Jones, "The Egoless Gene", THIS BLOG, Kramer writes:

"what distinguishes these groups
from the species at large is that
they help their common genome to
reproduce by enabling their
members to cooperate in
coordinated plus-sum games."

Leaving the genome bit aside -- hey, I'm at most a Designer, not an Engineer! (:)), I'd like to expand on the idea of the plus-sum-game.

For Grice, a pirot P1 meeets another pirot, P2.

They are a _gaggle_ of pirots.

They talk. Pirot 1 says m1 (first conversational move). Then Pirot P2 replies: m2-m3. The pirots are allowed one turn each, but the number of moves per turn is ulimited. Then Pirot 3 replies with m4, and so forth.

When I read L. Carlson's "Dialogue Games" (Synthese Library) I was fascinated by the motto, "Conversation is NOT a zero-sum game". But it did not say what it was. Now I know: it's what Kramer says it is: a coordinated, plus-sum game.

When I was reading that book that has the example:

---- "My ball itches"
(Is uniqueness meant? Female participants of the symposium were unable to reply: they lacked the intuition).

This book, Joshi et al, has this piece by Rosenschein, where he defines 'non-zero-sum game' easy enough. In set theoretical terms

Let

G(P1)p: be the set of Pirot 1's goals.

Let

G(P2)q: be the set of Pirot 2's goals.

So that the intsersection can NEVER be null:

* * * * * * * * * * *

GP1(p) ∩ GP2(q) = ∅

* * * * * * * * * * *

From wiki, "win-win games" and "non-zero-sum games" commented:

"Conversation is a win-win game, i.e a game which is so designed that both pirots can profit from it in one way or the other."

"Conversation is a non-zero-sum game."

"A win-win game such as conversation is is called a 'cooperative game', a 'new game', a 'game without losers'".

"Conversation, as a win-win game, emphasizes the importance of cooperation".

"But it also emphasises the fun, sharing, caring and over-all success for Pirot 1 and Pirot 2, in contrast to domination, egoistic behaviour and personal gain."

"Both players are treated as equally important and valuable."

"A win-win game such as conversation is often also carries an ethical message of caring for the environment and a holistic approach to life and society."

"Conversation as a win-win game is a powerful tool to give people self-confidence and a 'we' experience, especially when they have suffered from emotional isolation."

"An example would be a game of two pirots where both try to carry a huge 'earth ball' (a ball several meters in diameter) over their heads while negotiating an obstacle course. This is a typical example of a win-win game for several reasons: (a) there are no losers (everyone enjoys the accomplished task), (b) all players are involved (no-one is left out or sits out). (c) the game is psychologically working on many levels (communication, supporting each other, having fun in a group, &c).

"It has been theorised by R. Wright in his Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny that society becomes increasingly non-zero-sum as it becomes more complex, specialized, and interdependent. As former US President Bill Clinton states, 'The more complex societies get and the more complex the networks of interdependence within and beyond community and national borders get, the more people are forced in their own interests to find non-zero-sum solutions. That is, win–win solutions instead of win–lose solutions ... Because we find as our interdependence increases that, on the whole, we do better when other people do better as well — so we have to find ways that we can all win, we have to accommodate each other."

But then he studied at Oxford, with Grice! (Clinton, born Hope, Arkansas -- attended University College, Oxford, for two years, as Rhodes Scholar -- he learns things and calls his Oxford days "the happiest days of my life". Engage in a couple of zero-sum games, notably rowing. ("But just for fun"). Etc.

Etc.

JLS