by Connor O’neill
The police arrest two suspects, you and your accomplice. The police have insufficient evidence for a conviction, and, having separated both prisoners, visit each of you to offer the same deal: if one testifies for the prosecution against the other and the other remains silent, the betrayer goes free and the silent accomplice receives the full 10-year sentence. If you both stay silent, you both are sentenced to only six months in jail for a minor charge. If each betrays the other, each receives a five-year sentence. Each prisoner must make the choice of whether to betray the other or to remain silent. However, neither prisoner knows for sure what choice the other prisoner will make. So this dilemma poses the question: how would you act?
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