Hypothetical Ultimatum Game Behavior of Pirates

Justice on the High Seas

The Pirate's Paradox: Reconciling Lawlessness and Internal Justice

A 17th-century merchant, whose ship was plundered, wrote in his journal: "The pirates were villains of the highest order, a scandal to all civilized men. Yet, I was astonished to see them meticulously divide their spoils, ensuring each man received his promised share according to their own articles, punishing a man who tried to hide a single gold coin for himself." Which of the following statements best reconciles these seemingly contradictory observations?

The Pirate's Duality

Despite being viewed as lawless criminals by outsiders, many pirate crews operated with a strong internal code of conduct. Match each observed pirate practice with the principle of governance or justice it best exemplifies.

Based on contemporary accounts, the characterization of pirate crews as being 'strictly just among themselves' indicates that their internal rules and sense of fairness were fundamentally the same as the legal systems of the nations whose ships they attacked.

The Function of Pirate Justice

Evaluating the Pirate Social Contract

Contemporary accounts describe pirate crews as being both 'abandoned to all Vice' in their dealings with outsiders, yet 'strictly just among themselves' when dividing spoils or enforcing their own rules. What is the most likely functional reason for this internal system of justice?

Two pirates on a ship known for its strict internal code of conduct capture a chest containing 10 gold coins. The ship's captain grants one pirate, 'Proposer Pete,' the power to decide how the 10 coins will be split between himself and the other pirate, 'Responder Roger.' Roger's only choice is to either accept the proposed split, in which case they both receive their share, or reject it, in which case both pirates get nothing. Based on contemporary observations about pirate crews' internal sense of justice, what is the most probable course of action and outcome?