Isaac Avila 1

Avila, Isaac
Phil 103
Jansen
March 8, 2016
Reflection paper 2

Prisoners Dilemma
This semester we covered various key ideas in class, but there is one portion that struck
me as the most interesting piece of information. Further into the paper the concepts of Prisoners
dilemma will be explained and examined in depth to help readers better understand this decision
making process. I will also explain reasons why I chose this subject rather than others and
provide real life examples of this concept in action. I will also explain the relevance and usage it
has today.
Prisoners dilemma is a decision analysis process in which two separated individuals are
being questioned or interrogated. Since each individual is unclear of what the other will do or
say, he/she is advised to act and defend on behalf of themselves in order to receive the greatest
utility or lesser consequences. A table is provided in prisoners dilemma that helps with the
decision making process and displays possible outcomes that may occur considering both
decisions. The best example given would be two people convicted of a crime, and now in the
interrogation process. Since they are not together and unsure of what the other is doing, they
must choose whether to confess or remain silent. Each persons action bares two separate
outcomes that may occur. If person A confesses and B remains silent, then A will get no years in
jail and B would get 20. When A confesses and B also confesses now they both receive

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punishment but to a lesser extent. If person A remains silent and B confesses then A would
receive 20 years and B none. When A remains silent and B also remains silent, they will both
settle for only 1 year in jail. As you can see, it would be difficult to decide quickly what youd
do. No longer are the consequences based on your actions alone, so what exactly do you do?
Prisoners Dilemma is used in todays economics and is measured by utility. Utility is the
overall happiness a person receives when making a decision (or purchases in the economics
case). In our prisoners dilemma the best selection to make would be to confess. If you confess
you have more of chance to spend less jail time or have none. If your partner remains silent, you
are free. If he confesses you only receive 5 years. Now the average person would want them both
to remain silent and take the 1 year each, which seems like the most reasonable and lesser
charge. The key to this idea is that you must assume the worst and act according to yourself and
what brings you the most utility.
Prisoners dilemma is relevant because it challenges a person in decision making
processes. It helps you understand utility not just in purchases or crime scenarios, but in
everyday decisions. You as a person want to make yourself happy first before you are able to
make others happy. What kind of happiness are you giving when you contain no happiness at all?
Now that weve touched up on prisoners dilemma, we can have a better sense of what to
think when encountered with this kind of decision process. Weighing out your options are your
utility can be viral in your overall happiness and success. It is encouraged that you can take this
information and act upon it, for it a uselful tool in everyday life.

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"Prisoner's Dilemma Definition | Investopedia." Investopedia. N.p., 19 Nov. 2009.

Web. 11 Mar. 2016.
"Prisoners' Dilemma." : The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. N.p., n.d. Web. 11
Mar. 2016.