Comments on: Analysis of the “Hierarchy of Hungry Cannibals” Game

By: Austin Frakt

Austin Frakt — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:52:04 +0000

@Bob – Only that it is against the rules. Cannibal n (other than n = 1) may only eat n-1. I confess I didn’t make this as clear as I could have in the original posting of the problem statement. It was quickly clarified in the comments to the post. I’ve since edited the original post to make it explicit.

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:30:47 +0000

So if 8 eats, and 9 rejects eating 8 to avoid getting eaten by 10, then what stops 10 from eating 8 instead?

By: Austin Frakt

Austin Frakt — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:39:56 +0000

@Jim – I know it is odd to think the dominant cannibal cannot just do what he likes. However, it is a logic puzzle. As such, the rules are not meant to accurately reflect cannibal society, about which I know nothing. In this strict sense, “strangeness” has no meaning.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:53:46 +0000

So the rules of the island preclude cannibal 1 from eating the sleeping cannibal 2? That seems strange.