cooperative principle

The cooperative principle (Grice's maxims) in pragmaticspragmatics
pragmatics is a field of linguistics that looks at cooperation in language (pragmatism).
is the set of assumptions or directives which undergird conversationconversation


the one seeks a midwife for his thoughts, the other seeks some one whom he can assist: a good conversation thus originates. – nietzsche



Conversation is a Sprachspiel of dialogu...
as an activity of cooperationcooperation
cooperation is when agents work together to achieve a goal.

Reading List

The Evolution of Cooperation explains how it arises in game theory and evolutionary biology.
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  1. Be informative.
  2. Be truthful.
  3. Be relevant.
  4. Be clear and brief.

It's easier to see the rules in the transgression. When someone gives a knowingly obtuse answer to a question, lies about something banal, abruptly changes the conversation, or rambles incoherently, we are confused, annoyed, or taken aback.