The article suggests that fairness and justice are not identical outcomes.

On a somewhat related question, I was thinking about a problem that I think is related to the prisoner's dilemma -- scientific advancement.

For every theory proven to advance science there is some unknown number of theories that do not advance science.

At first it occurred to me that if the values of theories are all equal, then advancement over time would be achieved if correct theories are proven at greater than 50% of all theories. If exactly 50%, then there is no advance. If less than 50% then we enter eventually the Dark Ages.

But wait, there is a memory to the system. That is, advances are conserved and failed theories remembered such that they don't get repeated (in an ideal system...).

I'm thinking that this has direct implications for a particular theory -- evolution. In which successful genes are retained and deleterious genes, removed. So now I'm thinking maybe this is also within the realm of communications theory.....

I may do a lit search if I can formalize my thinking a bit more so I'm putting it out there to see what folks here think about it. An eclectic bunch.