The Stag Hunt

The Stag Hunt is a philosophical scenario illustrating the importance of cooperation and trust. Imagine two hunters deciding whether to hunt a large stag or each settle for a smaller hare. If both cooperate to hunt the stag, they can achieve a big reward—victory and shared success. However, if one defects and hunts a hare instead, they risk the other abandoning the plan, resulting in no stag and a smaller reward. This illustrates how mutual cooperation yields the best outcome, but relies heavily on trust; if trust breaks down, everyone may settle for less, or end up empty-handed.