I’m beginning to suspect this is a trick question. Well, sort of.
If the situation were reversed, how would you answer? If the technologically advanced Babyeaters had offered a one-sided “compromise” and then destroyed the primitive Superhappy ship when they refused?
The strong aliens have demonstrated their willingness to defect in a prisoner’s dilemma type situation while the weak ones cooperated. That suggests we should cooperate with the weak ones and defect against the strong ones. I don’t think the particulars of their moral systems should override that.
Prisoner’s Dilemma has been prominent enough in the story that Akon’s failure to appreciate the implications of the defection seems like a severe lapse of judgement. The Confessor stuns him and the remaining crew reconsiders the situation.
I’m beginning to suspect this is a trick question. Well, sort of.
If the situation were reversed, how would you answer? If the technologically advanced Babyeaters had offered a one-sided “compromise” and then destroyed the primitive Superhappy ship when they refused?
The strong aliens have demonstrated their willingness to defect in a prisoner’s dilemma type situation while the weak ones cooperated. That suggests we should cooperate with the weak ones and defect against the strong ones. I don’t think the particulars of their moral systems should override that.
Prisoner’s Dilemma has been prominent enough in the story that Akon’s failure to appreciate the implications of the defection seems like a severe lapse of judgement. The Confessor stuns him and the remaining crew reconsiders the situation.