Trust, risk, and the social contract

Brian Skyrms

pp. 21-25

in: Synthese 160 (1), 2008.

Abstract

The problem of trust is discussed in terms of David Hume’s meadow-draining example. This is analyzed in terms of rational choice, evolutionary game theory and a dynamic model of social network formation. The kind of explanation that postulates an innate predisposition to trust is seen to be unnecessary when social network dynamics is taken into account.

Cited authors

Hume David