IMO the correct equilibrium in order to minimize costs from muggers and increase incentives is not for people who get mugged to defend themselves, but to prosecute those muggers with people who specialize in violent altercations (i.e. the police). A really important part of decision theory and “prisoner’s dilemma” like arguments for this kind of stuff is to think about what the actually achievable and good equilibrium is, and “everyone gets good at self-defense” is IMO not a good choice of equilibrium.
IMO the correct equilibrium in order to minimize costs from muggers and increase incentives is not for people who get mugged to defend themselves, but to prosecute those muggers with people who specialize in violent altercations (i.e. the police). A really important part of decision theory and “prisoner’s dilemma” like arguments for this kind of stuff is to think about what the actually achievable and good equilibrium is, and “everyone gets good at self-defense” is IMO not a good choice of equilibrium.