Rational Ritual – Culture, Coordination & Common Knowledge: Culture, Coordination, and Common Knowledge - Hardcover

Chwe, Michael S–y

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 069100949X ISBN 13: 9780691009490

Publisher: Princeton University Press, 2001

Synopsis

Why do Internet, financial service and beer commercials dominate Super Bowl advertising? How do political ceremonies establish authority? Why does repetition characterize anthems and ritual speech? This book answers these questions using a single concept: common knowledge. Game theory shows that to co-ordinate its actions, a group of people must form "common knowledge". Each person wants to participate only if others also participate. Members must have knowledge of each other, knowledge of that knowledge, knowledge of the knowledge of that knowledge, and so on. Michael Chwe applies this insight to analyse a range of rituals across history and cultures.

About this title

About the Author

Michael Suk-Young Chwe is Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and the Department of Economic. New York University. He has published widely on game theory and its applications to social networks, monetary theory, collective action, minority voting rights, and physical violence.

From the Back Cover

"This is a very compelling and original work. It is the best conceptual book I have read in economics in several years. It will have an immediate and enthusiastic readership in the social sciences and will make Chwe's name as an important thinker."--Tyler Cowen, George Mason University

"Rational Ritual is engaging, well organized, and well written. It brings together the tools of game theory and the issues posed within a wide variety of areas of contemporary social theory to address an important problem. Students and scholars in diverse academic disciplines--including political science, sociology, anthropology, and some areas of cultural studies--will find the book both relevant and accessible."--David Ruccio, University of Notre Dame

From the Inside Flap

"This is a very compelling and original work. It is the best conceptual book I have read in economics in several years. It will have an immediate and enthusiastic readership in the social sciences and will make Chwe's name as an important thinker."--Tyler Cowen, George Mason University

"Rational Ritual is engaging, well organized, and well written. It brings together the tools of game theory and the issues posed within a wide variety of areas of contemporary social theory to address an important problem. Students and scholars in diverse academic disciplines--including political science, sociology, anthropology, and some areas of cultural studies--will find the book both relevant and accessible."--David Ruccio, University of Notre Dame

Edition details

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 069100949X
• ISBN 13: 9780691009490
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 144