Nice Guys Finish First... Most of the Time

Chapter 12 uses a different method to describe the ways of nature and the animals within it. Dawkins creates a certain special game and named it "The Prisoners Dilemma." In this game, there are three players involved. The first player is the banker. He is the judge and pays the winnings to each player according to how they play the game. The other two players play the actual game. The game is designed to see which of the two players is the nicer, and it is also designed to see which personality wins the game. In the game, the two players each receive two cards. The cards are labeled: cooperate and defect. The game proceeds like this. Player one stands between the two other players and tells them "ready, set, go." When this has occurred, the other two players choose one of their cards and hold it up. If both players choose "cooperate," then both shall be rewarded the same amount and it is considered "fairly good." If both players choose "defect" then the players shall be penalized the exact same amount and it would be considered "fairly bad." If player one defects and player two cooperates, then it is considered "very bad," and player one would be greatly fined. If player one cooperates and player two defects, then it is considered "very good," and player one would receive the highest payoff amount.

This game although tricky to understand, it has a theory to which the players must act upon in order to win the game. Both players must find an efficient strategy in which both players can benefit from each other. It is a difficult game because it takes a while for the players to conceive this concept and put it into action. Even then, the other player must also take part in the strategy in order for them to win. Dawkins uses this game to relate to nature. Like with birds, if one removes the ticks from the other, the other may decide to return the favor or not. If he does then they both win and benefit equally, but if he doesn't, then he will benefit the most and the first bird will lose the cost of his actions.

Dawkins did not find this game satisfying enough; therefore, he continued his research and came up with more strategies such as the "Tit for Tat" strategy, which depends on both players copying exactly what the player before chose to do, and the "axelrod" strategy, which implies forgiveness of the opposite player and envy of the opposite player in order to defeat and win the game. Dawkins shows many examples of how he applies his theories to nature. He uses every aspect in his games to match an aspect in nature and in the animals habits.