... the problem.You and I are prisoners guilty of some crime. We will be sentenced according to the following rules: `þ If I confess and you don't, I will go free whilst you will receive a ten year sentence `(and vice-versa). `þ If we both confess we will each receive a five year sentence. `þ If neither of us confess we will each receive a one year sentence. `þ We both act so as to minimize our own sentences. `þ Neither of us knows how the other will act (except that we are both rational agents in `posession of all the above information). `The problem then is to know what is the best strategy to adopt to ensure that the fourth `condition above is met. On first inspection it would appear that my best strategy is to confess. `The reasoning for adopting this strategy is that whatever prisoner B chooses to do, I will get the `least sentence posssible by confessing. If ...

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