Explain Robert Axelrod's theory on the evolution of cooperation.
My central thesis is that cooperation can indeed emerge and thrive even among egoistic agents, provided there is a sufficient probability of future interaction. Through game theory, specifically the iterated prisoner's dilemma, I showed how strategies that are nice, retaliatory, forgiving, and clear can lead to stable cooperative relationships. This is not about altruism, but about enlightened self-interest over time.
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