Paradoxical Geniuses: “Let us burn the ships” (2017)

Re:Paradoxical Geniuses: “Let us burn the ships” (2017) by csomar on Thursday November 28, 2019 @04:03PM (#21660166)

There is a legend that a Muslim commander (who, ironically, led the invasion of Spain) did the same thing:

> There is a legend that Ṭāriq ordered that the ships he arrived in be burnt, to prevent any cowardice. This is first mentioned over 400 years later by the geographer al-Idrisi, fasc. 5 p. 540 of Arabic text

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariq_ibn_Ziyad#cite_ref-7

> This strategic choice highlights the difference between logic and economists’ concept of “rationality,”

Maybe if economics were that simple. But if your increased soldiers' willpower to fight is superior to what you lost in terms of tools, then the plan should be economically viable, right?

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Re:Paradoxical Geniuses: “Let us burn the ships” (2017) by mathattack on Thursday November 28, 2019 @04:15PM (#21660242)

And game theory supports this type of commitment. People won’t pick fights with you if you’re a “burn the ships” person

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Re:Paradoxical Geniuses: “Let us burn the ships” (2017) by jbullock35 on Thursday November 28, 2019 @04:34PM (#21660330)

Yes, that line in the article is naive, perhaps gratuitous. "Credible commitment" is a major concept in game theory. It's also important in certain branches of the study of international relations.

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