Chapter Text
The iterated prisoner's dilemma is a concept proposed in the study of game theory. Two parties, separated from one another, are believed to be guilty of wrongdoing. They are given the choice to betray their partner in exchange for a lighter sentence, or to keep their silence. Neither knows what their cohort will do.
If both parties maintain their secrecy, neither can be charged. If both betray one another, then their sentence will be split. However, if one party stays silent while the other lays blame, then the latter will have sentenced their partner to death in exchange for their freedom.
Iterated, this dilemma repeats, and both parties proceed with the knowledge of what their partner chose, when betrayal was an option.
Perfectly logical actors will always choose betrayal. From the standpoint of the pure, self-serving rationality of the individual, betraying one's partner is the only sure chance of survival. Silence risks death.
John and EOS have already played this game. In an abstract sense, they play it every day. But they've only ever played it with each other.
And it's only meant to be a thought experiment.