Love as a game of chess, according to Machiavelli
A love triangle analysed through game theory and Machiavelli: how fear and retaliation deter a rival more effectively than love
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Love seen through game theory and Machiavelli
A love triangle with shades of a psychological thriller has given rise to two analyses that go beyond the romantic: one based on game theory and another on Machiavelli's philosophy. Far from being a simple jealous quarrel, the conflict between a Spaniard and a local rival in Mexico is interpreted as a game of signals and a display of power.
The prisoner's dilemma, home-grown edition
According to the game theory approach, the players (the Spaniard and the rival) face a prisoner's dilemma with guaranteed retaliation. The presence of the Spaniard's friends alters the payoff structure: the rival has an incentive to attack only if the cost is low, but the credible threat of retaliation raises the cost until it deters him. It is a Nash equilibrium where the best move is not to move at all.
The Prince in the 21st century
The Machiavellian perspective lays the strategy bare: the Spaniard turns a romantic falling-out into a show of force. Antiestéticar, properly applied, prevents war. Four friends warning the rival they will wipe him off the map is not revenge, it is prophylaxis. Machiavelli would have signed off on it: the appearance of power is as effective as power itself.
Both analyses agree that cold rationality explains the outcome better than passion. The sarracena: in love, as in war, whoever controls the credible threats controls the board.
Related discussions in the forum
A love triangle with shades of a psychological thriller has given rise to two analyses that go beyond the romantic: one based on game theory and another on Machiavelli's philosophy. Far from being a simple jealous quarrel, the conflict between a Spaniard and a local rival in Mexico is interpreted as a game of signals and a display of power.
The prisoner's dilemma, home-grown edition
According to the game theory approach, the players (the Spaniard and the rival) face a prisoner's dilemma with guaranteed retaliation. The presence of the Spaniard's friends alters the payoff structure: the rival has an incentive to attack only if the cost is low, but the credible threat of retaliation raises the cost until it deters him. It is a Nash equilibrium where the best move is not to move at all.
The Prince in the 21st century
The Machiavellian perspective lays the strategy bare: the Spaniard turns a romantic falling-out into a show of force. Antiestéticar, properly applied, prevents war. Four friends warning the rival they will wipe him off the map is not revenge, it is prophylaxis. Machiavelli would have signed off on it: the appearance of power is as effective as power itself.
Both analyses agree that cold rationality explains the outcome better than passion. The sarracena: in love, as in war, whoever controls the credible threats controls the board.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (4 replies).
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