CHAPTER 1 The problem of Cooperation UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS will cooperation emerge in a world of egoists without central authority? This question has intrigued people for a long time.And for good reason.We all know that people are not angels,and that they tend to look after themselves and their own first. Yet we also know that cooperation does occur and that our civilization is based upon it.But,in situations where each individual has an incentive to be selfish,how can coopera- tion ever develop? The answer each of us gives to this question has a funda- mental effect on how we think and act in our social,politi- cal,and economic relations with others.And the answers that others give have a great effect on how ready they will be to cooperate with us. The most famous answer was given over three hundred 3CHAPTER 1 The Problem of Cooperation UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS will cooperation emerge in a world of egoists without central authority? This question has intrigued people for a long time. And for good reason. We all know that people are not angels, and that they tend to look after themselves and their own first. Yet we also know that cooperation does occur and that our civilization is based upon it. But, in situations where each individual has an incentive to be selfish, how can coopera￾tion ever develop? The answer each of us gives to this question has a funda￾mental effect on how we think and act in our social, politi￾cal, and economic relations with others. And the answers that others give have a great effect on how ready they will be to cooperate with us. The most famous answer was given over three hundred 3