Laws of the Game: How the Principles of Nature Govern Chance

by Manfred Eigen, Ruthild Winkler

Eigen and Winkler show how game theory underlies all natural and human activity

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Mathematics, Physics, Philosophy

347 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Zack Hiwiller]

Probably the single most interesting book when it comes to the philosophy of games in terms of math and physics. I don't know why this isn't listed with the great foundational texts like Homo Ludens. Maybe it isn't sociological enough?

[Joe Pons]

“Freedom needs order just as much as it needs room for innovation. Since there is no mathematical formula for calculating justice in advance, justice can be realized only through an evolutionary process. In every phase of this evolution, the new must prove itself against the old. This is how life originated. This is how Homo sapiens developed. Only in this way can we achieve a life of freedom and put an end to degrading dependencies and exploitation.” Pg. 135-136

[Robert]

Very interesting. The authors discuss how chance creates order, effecting chemical reactions, evolution, language, human thought, art, etc. They include an excellent explanation of entropy. I now understand this concept much better. The book doesn't get 5 stars because there are a few places where it wanders and a few others where the explanations could be made clearer.

[Kimberly Bøhmer]

"Chance and rules are the elements that underlie games and play.

Play began among the elementary particles, atoms, and molecules, and now our brain cells carry it on. Human beings did not invent play, but it is play and only play that makes man complete."