Replying to LO26831 --
Dear MARK and others,
Thank you for raising a new topic. This topic is interesting because it
suggests that the result of applying individual rationality may be
collectively irrational. The phenomenon of tragedy of the commons (ToC)
should be found whenever a shared resource is consumed by a set of
*rational* (i.e., benefit maximising) units (entities) near the carrying
capacity of the resource.
I am quoting from an article on the Web: 'The Tragedy of the Commons and
Distributed AI Systems'
http://cdps.umcs.maine.edu/Papers/1993/TofCommons/TR.html
"The tragedy of the commons only requires that agents holding a resource
in common be rational, not that they be human. Consequently, a Distributed
AI (DAI) system will also fall prey to the problem when it relies on a
common resource shared among its agents. The system's resource will also
be at risk when external agents (human or otherwise) utilize it."
Many non-human entities are known to be *rational* in the sense of benefit
maximising. Examples: animals and software agents. You are asking for
examples in the natural world. In my unqualified opinion, much of the
natural world operates far below the carrying capacity (what is called
N<K, in the ToC parlance; N=the number of participants; K= the carrying
capacity). Therefore, the problem of ToC does not arise in most cases,
even if shared resources are involved (e.g., trees using the atmosphere).
However, in more constrained natural environments, e.g., a forest with
limited foliage, a pond with limited food-source, a desert with limited
water, it is possible to find examples of ToC arising. I would like to
know if these are studied in ETHOLOGY (study of animal behaviour/mind) or
ECOLOGY (study of the way plants and animals relate to their environment).
Coming to what happens within organisations, I think your question raises
an important line of enquiry. To my knowledge, there are usually a number
of shared resources used near their carrying capacity. For example: space
(i.e., office space, storage space, parking space), computing resources,
financial resources, ... (what about the softer resources which can run
out, such as the elements of *organisational climate* and even the CEO's
patience!), etc.
I would like to read more about it from you Mark and from the others.
Love.
DP
>1. Is anyone aware of any cases of the TOC in the natural world in which
>human activity is NOT invloved? Or are instances of TOCs only found in
>connection with human behaviors?
>2. In the human domain, is anyone aware of any instances of TOCs within
>an organization, as opposed to between them? In other words, can TOCs be
>found inside individual companies or human organizations, or do they only
>emerge as a consequence of interactions BETWEEN companies, organizations,
>and individuals?
--"D P Dash" <D_P_Dash@nts2.ximb.ac.in>
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