The Student's Dilemma
The Prisoner's Dilemma in the Classroom

You are all in a class graded on a curve. One of the topics of the class (elasticity? the Hobbesian state of nature? kinship maps?) is very tough. The curve is strong, but not absolute.

• If you study that topic, and the others all study it too, you each receive a B+ on the test and you all get to go to a party (or study for another class or indulge in some other kind of preferred activity).
  
  
• If you don't study the topic, and the other's don't either, you each receive a B+ on the test, but you have no party.
  
  
• If you study, and the others don't, you get an A+; they each get a D, though they got to party.
  
  
• If you don't study, and the others do, you get a D and the party, and they each get an A+.
  
  
• Note that "A+" > "B+ w/party" > "B+" > "D w/party,"
  and "B+ w/party" > average of "A+" and "D w/party"