Brams: ∗biblical∗ Games – A Strategic Analysis Of Stories In The Old Testament (paper) - Softcover

BRAMS

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0262520745 ISBN 13: 9780262520744

Publisher: MIT Press, 1988

Synopsis

"Biblical Games" represents a radical departure from traditional biblical scholarship; however, it is in no way flippant or sacrilegious.It brings a completely new approach to the study of the Scriptures--the mathematical theory of games--which Brams uses to explore the central question of theology, man's relationship to God.The thesis of "Biblical Games" is that both God and human biblical characters acted rationally in a series of games played in the Old Testament. This thesis is supported by an analysis of over twenty stories of conflict and intrigue, starting with the creation, in which it is demonstrated that biblical players (God included) consistently acted to further their own ends.Elementary tools from the theory of games, including payoff matrices and games trees that are fully explained in the text, are used to elucidate the rational calculations of biblical players and show precisely the manner in which they sought to achieve their most preferred outcomes. On the basis of the story-by-story strategic analysis, a detailed assessment of God's character and motivations is offered at the end, with reasons given for His frequently wrathful behavior."Biblical Games" will appeal to a wide audience--readers with a serious interest in the philosophy of religion, biblical studies, political theory, game theory and methodology, as well as those who are simply intrigued by a fascinating application of logical reasoning to a work long considered inaccessible to scientific analysis.Contents: "The Creation and Its Aftermath" (Adam, Eve, and the serpent); "The Meaning of Faith" (Abraham and Isaac, Jephthah and his daughter); "Family Conflict" (Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers); "Protracted Conflict" (Moses, the Israelites, and God); "Just Agreements and Wise Arbitration" (Rahab and the spies, Joshua's deception by the Gibeonites, Solomon and the disputed baby); "Royal Conflict" (Saul and David; Esther, Mordecai, and Haman); "Conflict Between the Sexes" (Nabal, Abigail, and David; Samson and Delilah; Vashti and Ahaseurus); "Theory, Evidence, and Findings" (including "Concluding Remarks on God"). Index.

About this title

Review:

"In his fascinating book 'Biblical Games, ' Professor Brams explores the nature of God by analyzing the serpent's temptation of Eve, Cain's murder of Abel and other biblical tales. "The book is neither religious nor sacrilegious; it is logical and deeply rooted in its sources. By casting selected biblical tales in game-theoretic form, Professor Brams discovers that God is a superlative strategist but a flawed Person.... "Mr. Brams concludes that God has an overweening concern for His reputation and is 'other-directed with a vengeance.' . . . God's anxiety about being perceived as weak or indecisive is the explanation for his 'harshness.' At the same time, God, like all of us, wants to be loved. He grows despondent when rejected. He seems all too human.... "Thus game theory emerges as a tool-though only one more tool-for analyzing a crucial artifact of human thought and experience.... "This respectful but conditional view of mathematics becomes all the more important as investigators in

About the Author:

Steven J. Brams is Professor of Politics at New York University. He is the author of Biblical Games: Game Theory and the Hebrew Bible (revised edition, MIT Press) and other books.

About this edition

• Publisher: MIT Press
• Publication date: 1988
• ISBN 10: 0262520745
• ISBN 13: 9780262520744
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208