All the computation I've seen regarding ancient spirits contain one fundamental flaw.
If your sole objective is to maximize your own gain, then yes, you're better off stealing.
If you have an over-arching societal objective to maximize everyone's profit, I'm afraid it is not possible.
This is a zero-sum game. Someone has to lose if others gain.
Example:
Players A,B,C,D,E.
1 Crop per player.
A steals from B,C,D,E and get 4 spirits.
A plants his own and got his stolen by B,C,D.
A gets 10 spirits from his crops.
Total of spirits A gets = 14.
B steals from A,C,D,E and get 4 spirits.
B plants his own and got his stolen by A,C,D.
B gets 10 spirits from his crops.
Total of spirit B gets = 14.
C steals from A,B,D,E and get 4 spirits.
C plants his own and got his stolen by A,B,D.
C gets 10 spirits from his crops.
Total of spirits C gets = 14.
D steals from A,B,C and gets 3 spirits.
D is unable to steal from E because E has been stolen 3 times.
D plants his own and got his stolen by A,B,C.
D gets 10 spirits from his crops.
Total of spirits D gets = 13.
E is unable to steal from A because A has been stolen by B,C,D.
E is unable to steal from B because B has been stolen by A,C,D.
E is unable to steal from C because C has been stolen by A,B,D.
E is unable to steal from D because D has been stolen by A,B,C.
E plants his crops and got his stolen by A,B,C.
Total of spirit E gets = 10.
Conclusion: D and E loses out while A,B,C gains.
You'll be happy if you're A,B,C.
But you won't be happy if you're D and E.
Your calculation is wrong because you only want to maximize your own profit, i.e you want to be A,B,C.
This is inherently selfish.
If your sole objective is to maximize your own gain, then yes, you're better off stealing.
If you have an over-arching societal objective to maximize everyone's profit, I'm afraid it is not possible.
This is a zero-sum game. Someone has to lose if others gain.
Example:
Players A,B,C,D,E.
1 Crop per player.
A steals from B,C,D,E and get 4 spirits.
A plants his own and got his stolen by B,C,D.
A gets 10 spirits from his crops.
Total of spirits A gets = 14.
B steals from A,C,D,E and get 4 spirits.
B plants his own and got his stolen by A,C,D.
B gets 10 spirits from his crops.
Total of spirit B gets = 14.
C steals from A,B,D,E and get 4 spirits.
C plants his own and got his stolen by A,B,D.
C gets 10 spirits from his crops.
Total of spirits C gets = 14.
D steals from A,B,C and gets 3 spirits.
D is unable to steal from E because E has been stolen 3 times.
D plants his own and got his stolen by A,B,C.
D gets 10 spirits from his crops.
Total of spirits D gets = 13.
E is unable to steal from A because A has been stolen by B,C,D.
E is unable to steal from B because B has been stolen by A,C,D.
E is unable to steal from C because C has been stolen by A,B,D.
E is unable to steal from D because D has been stolen by A,B,C.
E plants his crops and got his stolen by A,B,C.
Total of spirit E gets = 10.
Conclusion: D and E loses out while A,B,C gains.
You'll be happy if you're A,B,C.
But you won't be happy if you're D and E.
Your calculation is wrong because you only want to maximize your own profit, i.e you want to be A,B,C.
This is inherently selfish.
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