TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Course description and aims

The theme of this course is "Social Sciences with Evolutionary Simulation." This course deals with a social theory for emergence of a community. a nation and a state. A variety of problematic situations leading to social dilemma, such as a war of all against all, free-rider problem etc., are explained. Also it is introduced that the dilemmas can be solved with emergence of a community, a nation and a state, using evolutionary game theory and evolutionary simulation. In addition, explaining trends of computational social sciences, we consider local currency and crowdfunding empirically and discuss how to understand social phenomena.

This course aims to cultivate student’s capability to draw insights of a complex society in a manner of social systems sciences. It is achieved by explaining a social scientific interpretation for mathematical models and computer programs dealing with the problematic situations and critical discussions with students.

Student learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
1) Understand the concepts, a social exchange such as 1:1 and 1:N generalized exchange, the war of all against all, free riders, in-group favoritism, a predatory state etc.;
2) Understand that these concepts have a structure of social dilemma and they can be described as a mathematical model or a program;
3) Understand how evolutionary game theory and an evolutionary simulation can be applied to social sciences; and
4) Interpret the outputs from the model, in particular, understand that the model leads to a variety of insight into a community, a nation, and a state;
5) Consider the mutual aid society through analysis on local currency and crowdfunding with data science.

Course taught by instructors with work experience

Keywords

general exchange, a war of all against all, free-rider problem, in-group favoritism, predatory state, social dilemma, evolutionary game theory, evolutionary simulation, community, nation, state, local currency, crowdfunding, computational social science, data science

Competencies that will be developed

Class flow

In the course, to understand social and historical phenomena, mathematical models or algorithm will be explained as simply as possible.　In addition, social scientific interpretations on the models will be discussed. As a result, students are hoped to have the social systems insight.

This is a three-day intensive course, and dates and time periods are as follows:
August 7th: Class 1(Period 5-6), Class 2(Period 7-8)
August 11th: Class 3(Period 3-4), Class 4(Period 5-6)
August 12th: Class 5(Period 3-4), Class 6(Period 5-6), Class 7(Period 7-8)

***Classes will be offered live via Zoom throughout three days.

Students are required to attend all classes throughout the three days.

Course schedule/Required learning

Textbook(s)

None required.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Course materials are posted on OCW-i and/or provided during the classes.

Assessment criteria and methods

Students are encouraged to participate in discussions. Each student is required to prepare and submit the following reports: the report to consider emergence and stability of mutual aid society from the view point of social systems science. The assessment will be based on participation in the discussions (40%) and the report (60%).

Related courses

• LAH.S437 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences42:Consensus Building

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

Prospective students should have interests in a society and history.

Contact information (e-mail and phone)    Notice : Please replace from "[at]" to "@"(half-width character).

Professor Yutaka Nakai, nakai[at]shibaura-it.ac.jp

Other

This course includes the content of science.

***Classes will be offered live via Zoom throughout three days.