Agent-based simulation in the study of social dilemmas

摘要

This review discusses agent-based social simulation (ABSS') in relation to the study of social dilemmas such as the Prisoner's Dilemma and Tragedy of the Commons. Its aims are to explore the place of ABSS in relation to other research methods such as mathematical analysis, to familiarise artificial intelligence researchers (particularly those working on multi-agent systems) with a body of relevant multidisciplinary work, and to suggest directions for future ABSS research on social dilemmas. ABSS research can contribute greatly to the understanding of social phenomena, but needs to be based on a clear appreciation of the current 'state of play' in the areas where it is used. With regard to 'thin' (simple, general) simulation models, this primarily means attending to what has been or could be discovered by mathematical analysis, to work using other forms of simulation, and to the relevant theoretical disputes; with regard to 'thick' (specific, detailed) models (about which the paper has less to say), linking to the relevant 'thin' models and to the empirical evidence. The bulk of ABSS work on social dilemmas has been concentrated in quite a narrow - though certainly significant - area (reciprocal altruism in the Prisoner's Dilemma), and has sometimes been seriously flawed by over-ambitious claims, and insufficient attention to analytical approaches - although this same work has been very fertile in terms of inspiring further work, both analytical and simulation-based.