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Move by nature

Move by nature is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Move by nature rather than just read about it. In short: In game theory a move by nature is a decision or move in an extensive form game made by a player who has no strategic interests in the outcome. The effect is to add a player, "Nature", whose practical role is to act as a random number generator.

Move by nature — main illustration
Move by nature — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Move by nature belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Move by nature to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Move by nature from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In game theory a move by nature is a decision or move in an extensive form game made by a player who has no strategic interests in the outcome. The effect is to add a player, "Nature", whose practical role is to act as a random number generator. For instance, if a game of Poker requires a dealer to choose which cards a player is dealt, the dealer plays the role of the nature player. Moves by nature are an integral part of games of incomplete information.

See also Games of chance

References Fudenberg, Drew; Tirole, Jean (1995). Game Theory. MIT Press. pp. 336–337. ISBN 0-262-06141-4.

Illustrations

Move by nature: A signaling game which begins with a move by nature.
A signaling game which begins with a move by nature.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Move by nature

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Move by nature claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Move by nature before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Move by nature ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Move by nature

In research
Move by nature appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Move by nature in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Move by nature is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Game theory, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Move by nature outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Move by nature in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Move by nature means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Move by nature out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Move by nature in simple terms?

In game theory a move by nature is a decision or move in an extensive form game made by a player who has no strategic interests in the outcome. The effect is to add a player, "Nature", whose practical role is to act as a random number generator.

Why does Move by nature matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Move by nature?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Move by nature.

Tags

  • Game theory

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