Gero - Blog Post "Lucky Number 13"

  In discussing Sen’s argument on cooperation in the prisoner’s dilemma, Anderson asserts that “it is hardly foolish to not prefer the act of cooperation in itself, apart from its consequences” (page 27). She demonstrates this by providing the example of voting for a preferred consequence, not merely just for the act of voting (Anderson, 26). While Anderson may be correct in arguing that in some situations the consequences of cooperation are preferable to the act of cooperation, there is still an intrinsic value in cooperation. 

In The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Adam Smith discusses the various passions which evoke sympathy or resentment from the indifferent spectator. Smith would likely categorize cooperation as a social passion which “when expressed in the countenance or behavior even towards those who are not particularly connected to ourselves, please the indifferent spectator upon almost every occasion” (Smith, 36). Cooperation as a “social and benevolent affection,” holds intrinsic value in the eyes of the indifferent spectator regardless of its consequence (Smith, 36). For example, in the situation of a vote without consequence the indifferent spectator would recognize the value in the social passion of cooperation and coming together in support of a candidate—even if the act of voting wasn’t inherently valuable. This same principle would apply in the prisoners’ dilemma, where the act of cooperation is valuable to both the prisoners themselves and the indifferent spectator, who would feel a level of sympathy for the prisoners in their social passions. 

However, the clearest indication of the intrinsic value of cooperation is the way that it is taught to children. Beginning at a very young age, children are taught to cooperate with others merely because it is an inherently valuable act. If the consequence of cooperation was so entirely preferable to the act of cooperation, then children would be taught to cooperate in pursuit of a consequence, as opposed to its value as a social passion. 


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