TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Course description and aims

The theme of this course is "Social Sciences with Evolutionary Simulation." The first half of the 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 the second half, we will look to the future and discuss the possibilities and challenges of various social businesses with the students. As an example, we will take up crowdfunding and analyze the business model using computational social science (data science).
This course aims to cultivate student’s capability to draw insights of a mutual aid 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 a variety of exchanges such as 1:1 and 1:N generalized exchange are closely related to the formations of a community, a nation, a state, and a market.
2) Understand that the formation of institutions can be described using mathematical models and programs.
3) Based on the history, notice and gain insight into the signs of a new society.
4) Understand the possibility of designing a mutual aid society from a systems science perspective through computational social science (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, 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:

February 13th: Class 1(Period 3-4), Class 2(Period 5-6)
February 15th: Class 3(Period 3-4), Class 4(Period 5-6)
February 17th: Class 5(Period 3-4), Class 6(Period 5-6), Class 7(Period 7-8)

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

This course will be offered face-to-face at lecture room S223, South Bldg. 2, Ookayama Campus.

Course schedule/Required learning

Textbook(s)

None required.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Course materials are posted on T2SCHOLA　and/or provided during the classes.

Assessment criteria and methods

Students are encouraged to participate in discussions. In each day, student is required to prepare and submit the report. In particular, as the DAY3 report, the social business plan from the view point of social systems science is required to be submitted. The assessment will be based on participation in the discussions (40%) and the reports (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.yutaka0[at]gmail.com

Other

This course includes the content of science.

***Lectures in classes room throughout three days.

This course is 500-level course.
Tokyo Tech’s “wedge-shaped style education” enables students to pursue liberal arts education in a phased manner throughout undergraduate and graduate programs.
Students are encouraged to take courses in the sequence of 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 levels.
As such, master's students must begin from 400-level liberal arts courses in 1Q and 2Q of the first year, then proceed to 500-level courses.
And master's students entering in September must begin from 400-level liberal arts courses in 3Q and 4Q of the first year, then proceed to 500-level courses.
Students can register for 500-level Humanities and Social Science courses six months after their entrance (i.e. students admitted in April can register in 3Q and 4Q, and those admitted in September can register in 1Q and 2Q).