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{{short description|1986 British documentation television series}}
{{Unreferenced|date=January 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
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'''''Nice Guys Finish First''''' ([[BBC]] [[Horizon (BBC TV series)|''Horizon'' television series]]) is a 1986 documentary by [[Richard Dawkins]] which discusses selfishness and cooperation, arguing that evolution often favors co-operative behaviour, and focusing especially on the [[tit for tat]] strategy of the [[prisoner's dilemma]] [[game theory|game]]. The film is approximately 45 minutes long and was produced by Jeremy Taylor.
{{italic title}}{{more citations|date=February 2024}}

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'''''Nice Guys Finish First''''' ([[BBC]] [[Horizon (BBC TV series)|''Horizon'' television series]]) is a 1986 documentary by [[Richard Dawkins]] which discusses selfishness and cooperation, arguing that evolution often favors co-operative behaviour, and focusing especially on the [[tit for tat]] strategy of the [[prisoner's dilemma]] [[game theory|game]]. The film is approximately 50 minutes long and was produced by Jeremy Taylor.<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Nice Guys Finish First |url=https://archive.org/details/dawkins-nice-guys-finish-first |author=Richard Dawkins |type=Video |publisher=[[Horizon (BBC TV series)]] |year=1986 |others=Produced by Jeremy Taylor |time=49:26}}</ref>


The twelfth chapter in Dawkins' book ''[[The Selfish Gene]]'' (added in the second edition, 1989) is also named ''Nice Guys Finish First'' and explores similar material.
The twelfth chapter in Dawkins' book ''[[The Selfish Gene]]'' (added in the second edition, 1989) is also named ''Nice Guys Finish First'' and explores similar material.
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== Overview ==
== Overview ==


In the opening scene, [[Richard Dawkins]] responds very precisely to what he views as a misrepresentation of his first book [[The Selfish Gene]]. In particular the response of the [[right wing]] for using it as justification for [[social darwinism]] and [[laissez-faire]] economics (free-market capitalism). Richard Dawkins has examined this issue throughout his whole career and focused much of the recent documentary, [[The Genius of Charles Darwin]] on this very issue.
In the opening scene, [[Richard Dawkins]] responds very precisely to what he views as a misrepresentation of his first book, ''[[The Selfish Gene]]''. In particular, the response of the [[right wing]] for using it as justification for [[social Darwinism]] and [[laissez-faire]] economics (free-market capitalism). Dawkins has examined this issue throughout his career and focused much of his documentary ''[[The Genius of Charles Darwin]]'' on this very issue.

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The concept of [[reciprocal altruism]] is a central theme of this documentary. Additionally, Dawkins examines the [[tragedy of the commons]], and the dilemma that it presents. He uses the large area of common land [[Port Meadow]] in [[Oxford]], England, which has been battered by [[overgrazing]]. This provides an example of the infamous [[tragedy of the commons]]. Fourteen academics as well as experts in [[game theory]] submitted their own computer programs to compete in a tournament to see who would win in the [[prisoner's dilemma]]. The winner was [[tit for tat]], a program based on "equal retaliation", and Dawkins illustrates the four conditions of tit for tat.


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The concept of [[reciprocal altruism]] is a central theme of this documentary. Dawkins also examines the [[tragedy of the commons]] and the dilemma that it presents. He uses the large area of common land [[Port Meadow]] in [[Oxford]], [[England]] which has been hurt by overgrazing as an example of the tragedy of the commons. Fourteen academics as well as experts in [[game theory]] submitted their own computer programs to compete in a tournament to see who would win in the [[prisoner's dilemma]]. The winner was [[tit for tat]]. A program which is based on "equal retaliation" and Dawkins illustrates the four conditions of tit for tat.
# Unless provoked, the agent will always cooperate.
# Unless provoked, the agent will always cooperate.
# If provoked, the agent will retaliate.
# If provoked, the agent will retaliate.
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# The agent must have a good chance of competing against the opponent more than once.
# The agent must have a good chance of competing against the opponent more than once.


In a second trial, this time of over sixty applicants [[tit for tat]] won again.
In a second trial, this time of over sixty applicants, [[tit for tat]] won again.

The documentary does not seem to address much larger issues within the [[tragedy of the commons]] for example it only briefly mentions [[global warming]]. Yet "Initial niceness" is a conclusion that Richard Dawkins drew from this study and other research for effective cooperation which led him to believe that in fact, "Nice guys finish first."


==See also==
==See also==
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* [[Sociobiology]]
* [[Sociobiology]]
* ''[[The Selfish Gene]]''
* ''[[The Selfish Gene]]''
* [[Tit for Tat]]
* [[Tit for tat]]
* [[Tragedy of the commons]]
* [[Tragedy of the commons]]
* ''[[Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution]]''
* ''[[Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution]]''


==References==
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== External links ==
{{reflist}}
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* {{imdb title|0976550}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFj0caNX1s0 ''Nice Guys Finish First''] (full video)


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== External links ==
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{{Dawkins}}
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* {{IMDb title|0976550}}


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{{Richard Dawkins}}
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{{documentary-stub}}


[[Category:1986 films]]
[[Category:1986 films]]
[[Category:BBC television documentaries]]
[[Category:BBC television documentaries]]
[[Category:Documentary films about science]]
[[Category:Documentary films about science]]
[[Category:Richard Dawkins]]
[[Category:Horizon (British TV series)]]
[[Category:Works by Richard Dawkins]]
[[Category:Documentary television shows about evolution]]
[[Category:1980s British films]]




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[[fr:Nice Guys Finish First]]
[[nl:Nice Guys Finish First]]
[[pl:Nice Guys Finish First]]
[[ru:Nice Guys Finish First]]

Latest revision as of 07:25, 11 November 2024

Nice Guys Finish First (BBC Horizon television series) is a 1986 documentary by Richard Dawkins which discusses selfishness and cooperation, arguing that evolution often favors co-operative behaviour, and focusing especially on the tit for tat strategy of the prisoner's dilemma game. The film is approximately 50 minutes long and was produced by Jeremy Taylor.[1]

The twelfth chapter in Dawkins' book The Selfish Gene (added in the second edition, 1989) is also named Nice Guys Finish First and explores similar material.

Overview

[edit]

In the opening scene, Richard Dawkins responds very precisely to what he views as a misrepresentation of his first book, The Selfish Gene. In particular, the response of the right wing for using it as justification for social Darwinism and laissez-faire economics (free-market capitalism). Dawkins has examined this issue throughout his career and focused much of his documentary The Genius of Charles Darwin on this very issue.

The concept of reciprocal altruism is a central theme of this documentary. Additionally, Dawkins examines the tragedy of the commons, and the dilemma that it presents. He uses the large area of common land Port Meadow in Oxford, England, which has been battered by overgrazing. This provides an example of the infamous tragedy of the commons. Fourteen academics as well as experts in game theory submitted their own computer programs to compete in a tournament to see who would win in the prisoner's dilemma. The winner was tit for tat, a program based on "equal retaliation", and Dawkins illustrates the four conditions of tit for tat.

  1. Unless provoked, the agent will always cooperate.
  2. If provoked, the agent will retaliate.
  3. The agent is quick to forgive.
  4. The agent must have a good chance of competing against the opponent more than once.

In a second trial, this time of over sixty applicants, tit for tat won again.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Richard Dawkins (1986). Nice Guys Finish First (Video). Produced by Jeremy Taylor. Horizon (BBC TV series). Event occurs at 49:26.
[edit]


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