Game theory is not just mathematics - it rests on profound moral foundations. Aristotle's concept of philia (political friendship) recognized that humans flourish through cooperation. His virtue ethics teaches that character - not just calculation - determines good outcomes.

Adam Smith, before writing about economics, wrote The Theory of Moral Sentiments. He argued that sympathy - our ability to imagine ourselves in others' positions - is the foundation of morality. The "impartial spectator" within us judges our actions.

John Harsanyi contributed to moral philosophy by formalizing utilitarian reasoning within game theory. His "veil of ignorance" argument (developed independently of Rawls) shows how fairness can be derived from rational choice under uncertainty about one's position.

In this topic, you'll explore why fairness matters strategically, how moral considerations enter game-theoretic analysis, and what the masters teach about the relationship between ethics and rationality. Woody Brock's work on distributive justice shows these aren't abstract questions - they determine who gets what.