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The Joker Adapts Game Theory in Cynical Plan in “The Dark Knight”

https://www.polygon.com/2018/7/18/17578526/the-dark-knight-ferry-boat-dilemma-game-theory 

In the 2008 film The Dark Knight, the Joker sets up two ferries with bombs, and places the detonator on opposite ships. One boat is filled with civilians while the other is filled with convicted criminals. If one group detonates the bomb of the other ship, that group will be spared. However, if neither group acts by midnight, the Joker will blow both of them up. The scheme that the Joke sets up is loosely based on the “prisoner’s dilemma”. The scenario can be represented by this matrix.

In this scenario, blowing up the other boat is the dominant strategy for both groups. That would have been the strategy taken if it was not for the self-sacrifice of one of the criminals, and the overbearing burden of murder on the mind of the civilians. However, the game was changed when Batman was added to the equation. The final verdict that the Joker gave was that he would blow both boats up, but Batman was able to stop him from doing so, thus saving both ferries.

What this shows is that people aren’t (as the Joker thought) completely logical and selfish beings. There are various other factors that can affect game theory. In this case the main difference makers were the sense of guilt that would come with killing another ferry full of people, the criminal’s self-sacrifice, and Batman.

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