(An upstairs seminar room at the Institute for the Advancement of Dictatorships. Two windows at the side look out onto the lake. Snow is falling. The far shore is barely visible.)
(The Game Theorist is summarizing his lecture. The students sit quietly, Stalin among them. The Caretaker sits at the back.)
THE GAME THEORIST
So we see that punishment need not occur in equilibrium, provided it is sufficiently well anticipated. Of course, accidents may happen, and punishment may become unavoidable. This is where forgiveness enters.
THE FIRST STUDENT
If one knows one will be forgiven, what remains of the threat?
THE GAME THEORIST
Forgiveness does not remove the threat. It refines it.
THE OTHER STUDENTS
How so?
THE GAME THEORIST
It imposes a cost sufficient to discipline, while preserving the possibility of further cooperation.
THE FIRST STUDENT
This assumes that continued cooperation is desired.
THE GAME THEORIST
It does.
THE OTHER STUDENTS
Why so?
THE GAME THEORIST
Because the payoff matrix is such that continued cooperation is mutually beneficial.
THE FIRST STUDENT
The matrix may not be correct.
THE GAME THEORIST
If it is not, we have to study a different game.
STALIN
The game is chosen.
THE INSTRUCTOR
Thank you, Joe. But let us now have a round of applause for our distinguished lecturer from Jerusalem.
(The students clap politely. The snowfall has thickened. The far shore is no longer visible.)
THE GAME THEORIST
It has been a pleasure.
THE FIRST STUDENT
The pleasure will be greater once the honorarium has been received.
(A brief chuckle among the other students.)
THE GAME THEORIST (calmly)
Quite so.
STALIN
I do it for free.
THE OTHER STUDENTS
Why so?
STALIN
Because I am charitable.
THE INSTRUCTOR
For which we are grateful, Joe. Would you like to share your views on punishment?
STALIN
The punished are rarely the audience.
THE OTHER STUDENTS
Who is?
THE FIRST STUDENT
Everybody else is.
STALIN
In my classroom, he would be shot.
(A few of the other students laugh.)
STALIN
And those who laugh would be shot as well.
(Silence ensues.)
THE FIRST STUDENT
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin, shooting me would be rather random.
STALIN
Which is the very point.
THE INSTRUCTOR
Why is Napoleon not here?
THE CARETAKER (standing)
I will fetch him.
(The snowfall has thickened further. The lake is no longer visible.)
(After a few minutes, the Caretaker reappears.)
THE CARETAKER
He cannot be woken.