利己性と利他性と社会的ディレンマ
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概要
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Selfishness and competition and the resulting harmony (Adam Smith) or dilemma (Hobbes) have been the main themes of social sciences as well as of evolutionary biology (Darwin). The general equilibrium theory of economics has proved that the 'invisible hand' of Adam Smith is in effect the price mechanism of the free market which automatically realizes the efficient (Pareto optimal) allocation of resources among individuals in the society, provided that consumers and entrepreneurs are free to compete in the market for their maximum self-satisfaction. At the same time, the theory has shown that the price mechanism is not perfect in the sense that it inevitably brings about Hobbes' dilemma through 'market failure,' 'externalities,' and 'public goods.' Darwin's theory of evolution has established that the struggle for existence which is universal in nature necessarily results in the spread of selfishness among all living creatures; i.e., that selfishness and competition are basic principles of evolution. Recent developments in behavioural ecology and molecular biology further substantiate the notion that selfishness is so basic as to be ascribable to the 'selfish gene' (Dawkins). It was also Darwin who noticed the abundance of cooperative behaviour in both the non-human and human world, some of which appears contradictory to the principle of selfishness, and who tried to explain the evolution of altruism in terms of 'group selection,' 'kin selection,' and 'reciprocity.' Though these theories are modern, they can all be traced back to Darwin. Among recent developments, Hamilton's theory of kin selection and Axelrod's theory of evolution (both biological and cultural) of cooperation among egoists have made substantial contributions to clarifying the relation between selfishness and altruism as well as the basic structure of social dilemma. These studies, together with the evolutionary game theory of Maynard Smith, point to the possibility to integrate biological and socialscientific studies in understanding the basicmechanism of competition and cooperation.
- 東京女子大学の論文
- 1985-09-25