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Abstract
The mini-course 'Controversies in Game Theory' consists of four course units that provide an in-depth introduction to issues in game theory motivated by real-world issues related to the tensions that may result from interactions in groups, where individual and collective interests may conflict. The course integrates theory from various disciplines.
Objective
Students are encouraged to think about human interactions, and in particular in the context of game theory, in a way that is traditionally not covered in introductory game theory courses. The aim of the course is to teach students the complex conditional interdependencies in group interactions.
Content
The course will introduce core game theory concepts and showcase applications. In 2026, the course will celebrate the contributions and lasting impact of John von Neumann, who graduated from ETH one hundred years ago in 1926.
Resources
Lecture Notes
Slides will be provided.
Literature
John v Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern. 1944. Theory of Games and Economic Behavior. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_Games_and_Economic_Behavior ) Diekmann, Andreas: Spieltheorie. Rowohlt 2009. Dixit, Avinash K., and Susan Skeath. Games of Strategy. WW Norton & Company, 2015. Ken Binmore (1992): Fun and Games. Lexington: Heath. Camerer, Colin (2003): Behavioral Game Theory. Experiments in Strategic Interaction. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Game Theory Evolving Link Evolutionary Game Theory https://www.amazon.com/Evolutionary-Game-Theory-MIT-Press/dp/0262731215/ Evolutionary Game Theory in Natural, Social and Virtual Worlds https://www.amazon.com/Evolutionary-Natural-Social-Virtual-Worlds/dp/0199981159/ Evolutionary Dynamics and Extensive Form Games Link Evolutionary Games and Population Dynamics Link Quantitative Sociodynamics https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783642115455 Synergistic Selection: How Cooperation Has Shaped Evolution and the Rise of Humankind Link Survival of the Nicest https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Nicest-Altruism-Human-Along/dp/1615190902/ Evolutionary Games with Sociophysics Link Statistical Physics and Computational Methods for Computational Game Theory Link Games of life https://www.amazon.com/Games-Life-Explorations-Evolution-Behaviour/dp/0198547838 Further literature will be recommended in the lectures.