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Dissertation: “Network Epistemology”
Committee: Brian Skyrms (chair), P. Kyle Stanford, and Jeffrey Barrett

How to End International Tax Competition

Why both Trump and Cruz can claim to represent the majority of Republicans

Partial honesty in a hummingbird polymorphism provides evidence for a hybrid equilibrium

Exploring the importance of stochasticity to hybrid equilibria in a discrete signaling game

Academic Journals, Incentives, and the Quality of Peer Review: A Model

Explaining costly religious practices: credibility enhancing displays and signaling theories

The Game Theorist's Guide to Parenting: How the Science of Strategic Thinking Can Help You Deal with the Toughest Negotiators You Know--Your Kids

The Theory of Games as a Tool for the Social Epistemologist

The Scientific Ponzi Scheme

Supplementary Mathematica Notebook

Philosophy Compass 8: 15-27

Network Epistemology: Communication in Epistemic Communities

Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation 14 (4): 15

Computer Simulation and Emergent Reliability in Science

Erkenntnis 72(1):17-35

The Epistemic Benefit of Transient Diversity

Episteme 6(2): 185-199.

Optimal Publishing Strategies

Kevin Zollman is the Herbert A. Simon Professor of Philosophy and Social and Decision Sciences and the director of the Institute for Complex Social Dynamics at Carnegie Mellon University. In addition to his primary appointment at Carnegie Mellon, Kevin is an associate fellow at the Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh, and a visiting professor at the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (part of Ludwig-Maximilians Universität).

Social and Political Philosophy

Epistemology,

Philosophy of Biology

Decision and Game Theory

Philosophy of Science

Philosophy of Economics

Ethics

Personal Website

Google Scholar

What Investors Can Learn From the Best Poker Players

Why Playing Poker, Chess or Bridge Can Make You a Better Investor

Video interviews on various game theory topcis

a16z Podcast: The Macro and the Micro of Parenting

The United Airlines Fiasco: How Game Theory Could Help

The Mystery of Motivation

How Election 2016 Would Be Different With Ranked-Choice Voting

Why Republicans Are Flip-Flopping On Their Endorsements

Game Theory Secrets for Parents

Not Safe For Funding: The N.S.F. and the Economics of Science

Crowds Are Not People, My Friend

Professor of Philosophy and Social and Decision Sciences and Director, Institute for Complex Social Dynamics | Dietrich College of Humanities & Social Sciences

https://www.cmu.edu/whats-next-podcast/all-episodes/s2-episode-5-game-theory-decoded-part-1

Have you ever been stuck in traffic and switched lanes, only to watch your old lane start moving faster? Or perhaps you've stood in a grocery line, debating whether to move to the shorter line, knowing others are thinking the same thing?  Welcome to Game Theory in action. 

In Part 1 of a two-part episode, we explore the fascinating world of Game Theory with Kevin Zollman, a leading game theorist and professor at Carnegie Mellon University.  We discuss the fundamentals of Game Theory, its real-world applications, and how it influences various aspects of life, from parenting to business negotiations. The conversation delves into key concepts such as zero-sum games, the Nash Equilibrium, and the Prisoner's Dilemma, illustrating how these theories can help us understand strategic decision-making in everyday situations. We also touch on the future of Game Theory in scientific research – including the behavior of viruses – and its implications for social dynamics.

Kevin Zollman is the Herbert A. Simon Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Institute for Complex Social Dynamics at Carnegie Mellon University. Learn more about his work: https://www.cmu.edu/news/experts/kevin.zollman

Game Theory Decoded - Part 1

https://www.cmu.edu/whats-next-podcast/all-episodes/s2-episode-6-game-theory-decoded-part-2

In the second part of a special two-part episode on Game Theory, CMU’s Kevin Zollman discusses how the principles of Game Theory can be used for the betterment of humanity – including improving social interactions, addressing complex global challenges like hunger, and improving personal relationships. He emphasizes the importance of changing the game to create positive outcomes and explores the future of Game Theory in relation to AI, technology and social dynamics.

Kevin Zollman is the Herbert A. Simon Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Institute for Complex Social Dynamics at Carnegie Mellon University. Learn more about his work: Learn more about his work: https://www.cmu.edu/news/experts/kevin.zollman

Resources:
Learn more about CMU’s Institute for Complex Social Dynamics: https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/social-dynamics/
Watch intro video on the Institute: https://youtu.be/RVP-I9Pe8NM?si=02XhEojWhCFFNUG_
See Kevin Zollman and Paul Raeburn’s book, “The Game Theorist’s Guide to Parenting” https://www.amazon.com/Game-Theorists-Guide-Parenting-Negotiators/dp/0374160015/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SVG7EM2VRZRU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.WjNORdRxzXitXXmSlFGQFg.ohGltX014vjHd1p1bLTHLsrdA4_M5zeJsJlmT2O73X8&dib_tag=se&keywords=game+theory+kevin+zollman&qid=1748449370&sprefix=game+theory+kevin+zollman%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-1

Game Theory Decoded - Part 2

On today’s episode I have a conversation with leading Game Theorist and Philosopher, Kevin Zollman. We discuss what Game Theory actually is, and how you can implement it in your life starting today.

Kevin Zollman is a game theorist and philosopher at Carnegie Mellon University. His academic research focuses on the use of game theory across the natural world, from humans to bacteria. He is the co-author of The Game Theorist's Guide to Parenting: How the Science of Strategic Thinking Can Help You Deal with the Toughest Negotiators You Know--Your Kids.

Be sure to check out Kevin’s book:
- https://www.kevinzollman.com/the-game-theorists-guide-to-parenting.html

Follow Kevin:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KevinZollman


Listen On:
Spotify: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/o95qj41IkEb

Want to chat? Leave a comment below, or reach out on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshdittmerpod/

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Game Theory In 60 Minutes | Game Theory EXPERT (Kevin Zollman)

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If you want to be an expert negotiator — or even a savvy game theorist — you must master one thing. Patience. Kevin Zollman, a professor at Carnegie Mellon and one of the leading game theorists in America today, offers us some insight into how to gain the upper hand when it comes to negotiating. Game theory comes in handy in many facets of life, from buying a car to asking for a raise. Zollman even goes as far to tell us not only how to attain negotiating power but how to sustain it, by simply telling the other other party to "take it or leave it." Kevin Zollman and Paul Raeburn are the authors of The Game Theorist's Guide to Parenting: How the Science of Strategic Thinking Can Help You Deal with the Toughest Negotiators You Know--Your Kids.

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KEVIN ZOLLMAN

Kevin Zollman is an associate professor in the Department of Philosophy at Carnegie Mellon University. He is also an associate fellow at the Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh, visiting professor at the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (part of Ludwig-Maximilians Universität), and an associate editor of the journal Philosophy of Science. His research focuses on game theory, agent based modeling, and the philosophy of science. Zollman is the co-author of The Game Theorist's Guide to Parenting: How the Science of Strategic Thinking Can Help You Deal with the Toughest Negotiators You Know--Your Kids, with Paul Raeburn.


 


 


 

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TRANSCRIPT:

Kevin Zollman: Game theorists have spent a lot of time analyzing various some models of negotiation. The idea is that you take what feels like a complex interaction, distill it down to it’s very simple elements and then you model it using the tools of game theory. 


One of the things that game theorists have found is that in negotiation, especially in negotiations where we’re debating how to divide up some resource—classic example in game theory is dividing up a pie, but it could be anything, like money or some time with a toy, or anything where we have to decide how to divide it up. 


Game theorists have discovered a couple of central principles that make a big difference to who does better in those negotiations. 


One of the critical things is how patient you are, how willing you are to stay and continue to negotiate. 


So if I come in in a rush to a car dealership and I say “I need a car right now,” everyone knows that the car dealer is going to try and take advantage of the fact that you need a car right now and say, “sorry, we can’t give you a discount.” 


But if you come into a car dealership and you say “I don’t need a car anytime soon… if you give me a good deal today I’ll take it, but if you don’t I’ll leave, maybe I’ll come back tomorrow, maybe the next day, maybe a month later,” then you’ll get a better deal. So patience is very important. 


If you’re trying to win in a negotiation you want to try and find ways to make it so that you are more patient than the other person—that is you have less to lose from letting the negotiation drag out than does the person you’re negotiating with. 


So don’t wait until the last minute to buy a new car, don’t run into the bosses office right before you need that big raise. Always choose situations where you just suggest it. Say “No urgency, but I can come back later.” 


By doing that you create this situation where the other person can’t take advantage of your impatience, they can’t give you a deal that is effectively a “take it or leave it” deal.


Another important thing in negotiation that can lead to better outcomes for you is: you always want to be in the position to be able to offer take it or leave it deals to the other person. 


So if you can say to somebody else “here’s the deal, take it or leave it,” now they’re put in a position where they take it or they get nothing.


Now it’s tricky, of course, because I can say to you “take it or leave it,” but that doesn’t mean that it really is that way. 


So by creating situations where it really is a take it or leave it situation, that can help you, but it’s also nerve-racking and dangerous so it’s a strategy that you have to be very careful about. But if you can be in a situation where you can offer somebody a true take it or leave it deal, that can often times improve the outcomes of the negotiation for you.

Game theory: Two key principles for winning negotiations | Kevin Zollman

How to Win with Game Theory & Defeat Smart Opponents
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If you want to win, it's best to think crazy like a fox. Nobody knows this better than Kevin Zollman — a nationally recognized expert in game theory and associate professor of philosophy at Carnegie Mellon University — who suggests that perhaps the best way to get ahead of your opponent is to think completely counterintuitively. This works especially well in poker, where breaking the flow (say, bluffing when you have nothing) can keep your foes from guessing your next move. A little dose of crazy goes a long way. Zollman is the co-author of The Game Theorist's Guide to Parenting: How the Science of Strategic Thinking Can Help You Deal with the Toughest Negotiators You Know — Your Kids, with Paul Raeburn.
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KEVIN ZOLLMAN:

Kevin Zollman is an associate professor in the Department of Philosophy at Carnegie Mellon University. He is also an associate fellow at the Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh, visiting professor at the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (part of Ludwig-Maximilians Universität), and an associate editor of the journal Philosophy of Science. His research focuses on game theory, agent based modeling, and the philosophy of science. Zollman is the co-author of The Game Theorist's Guide to Parenting: How the Science of Strategic Thinking Can Help You Deal with the Toughest Negotiators You Know--Your Kids, with Paul Raeburn.
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TRANSCRIPT:

Kevin Zollman: When one is confronted with a situation that’s truly zero sum where one party is going to win and the other party is going to lose, a situation is very complicated and sometimes difficult to analyze. Game theory spent much of its early days analyzing zero sum games and trying to figure out what’s the best strategy. 

It’s a little complicated because it depends critically on how sophisticated you think the other party is. 

If they’re very, very, very smart, the chances that you’re going to outthink them are not very high. In such a situation often times the best strategy is very counterintuitive, because it involves flipping a coin or rolling a dice or doing something random.

Professional poker players know this and they often times advocate in poker strategy books that one should occasionally do something completely counterintuitive in order to keep your opponents off guard. And in fact game theory has shown that this is good, solid, mathematically well-founded advice, that often times what you want to do is engage in a kind of random strategy—game theorists call this a mixed strategy—in order to make sure that your opponent can’t get the leg up on you. 

The nice thing about these random strategies is that they ensure that your opponent can never outthink you. So even if you think your opponent is a little smarter than you or a little bit more sophisticated than you or has a little bit more information than you do, the fact that you’re being random to a certain extent means that they can’t outthink you.

Now how do you figure out how to be random? I’m not saying just flip a coin all the time or whatever. What game theorists have figured out is that in zero sum games the best strategy to pursue when you’re against a sophisticated opponent is to adopt the strategy which minimizes your maximum loss. This is sometimes called the mini max strategy. 

So the idea is you think: what’s the worst case scenario for me? What could my opponent do that would make me worse off? 

And then you figure out what’s the best strategy against that, so you’re minimizing your maximum loss. 

Game theorists prove that if you use this way of thinking, minimizing your maximum loss, you ensure that no matter how sophisticated your opponent is you’ve guarded against the worst case scenario. And not only that but in zero sum games you’ve done the best you can possibly do.

That’s not true in games that aren’t zero sum, so one has to be very careful about employing this strategy, because if you’re mistaken and you’re not in a zero sum interaction you could end up ruining it for everybody. But if you’re truly in a zero sum interaction this is one of the strategies that you can use. 

Now suppose that you’re dealing with an opponent who’s not sophisticated, you are smarter than they are, there it depends very much on: how smart are they? Can you outthink them? And what’s the individual interaction that you’re engaged in? 

So...

For the full transcript, check out https://bigthink.com/videos/kevin-zollman-how-to-outfox-someone-whos-smarter-than-you

How to Win with Game Theory &amp; Defeat Smart Opponents | Kevin Zollman | Big Think

We tend to talk about tech and parenting through devices and artifacts -- screen time, to code or not to code -- but actually, there's a bigger, macro picture at play there: game theory, economic incentives, culture, and more. So in this back-to-school episode of the a16z Podcast, two economists -- Kevin Zollman, game theorist and philosopher at CMU and author of The Game Theorist's Guide to Parenting; and Fabrizio Zilibotti, macroeconomist at Yale working on a book called Love, Money and Parenting -- share their expertise on parenting through the lens of economics.

The hallway-conversation (with Hanne Tidnam) covers how these theories play out in practice -- for example, when the kids are bickering in the back seat of the car -- to how parents can balance altruism vs. paternalism when it comes to thinking about their kids' future vs. their kids' reality of living in the now. And then finally, how do different parenting styles, corporal punishment, education, and of course, technology, play a role in how we parent?

a16z Podcast | The Macro and Micro of Parenting

Dr. Kevin Zollman is the Herbert A. Simon Professor of Philosophy and Social and Decision Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, and the director of the Institute for Complex Social Dynamics. His research focuses on game theory, agent based modeling, and the philosophy of science. He is co-author with Paul Raeburn of The Game Theorist's Guide to Parenting: How the Science of Strategic Thinking Can Help You Deal with the Toughest Negotiators You Know - Your Kids. He has also written for The New York Times, Scientific American, The LA Times, among other publications.

You can find more of his work at www.kevinzollman.com.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:09 The Broad Scope of Epistemology and its Connections to Other Disciplines
10:45 Growing Up in an Academic Environment and Pursuing Philosophy
17:26 The Relevance of Philosophy in Various Fields and Teaching Philosophy
23:07 Analyzing Sports Betting through Decision Theory
26:48 The Historical Connection between Philosophy and Mathematics
29:22 Philosophy's Marketing Problem
31:42 The Eccentric Philosopher Stereotype
41:27 Analyzing Rock, Paper, Scissors from a Game Theorist's Perspective
44:44 Applying the 'I Cut You Pick' Concept to Parenting
50:55 Navigating the Norms and Deadlines of Popular Media
53:17 The Value of Writing for a Popular Audience
55:02 Current and Future Projects in Philosophy
57:06 Philosophical Goals and Personal Motivations
58:48 Advice for Philosophers Interested in Writing for a Popular Audience



Dr. Kevin Zollman on How to Apply Game Theory to Parenting, Poker, and Life

Media Inquiry