Backward Induction in Indian Animal Tales

Abstract

With regard to Indian animal tales, the indologist Heinrich Zimmer nds a “cool exactness in a sort of political algebra”. We translate “political algebra”by noncooperative game theory and analyze three well-known fables in game-theory terms. We show that backward induction has already been applied in Indian animal tales. The tragedy that follows a wrong plan, The Triumph that results from the right plan, To the rules of Polity both are linked; so the wise can point them out, as if displayed in advance. (from the Panchatantra, translated by Olivelle 2006, p. 77, verse 1.60)