Peter Vanderschraaf is a contemporary analytic philosopher specializing in game theory, social contract theory, and formal epistemology. He is known for applying formal tools—particularly coordination games and Bayesian rationality—to problems in political philosophy and the foundations of convention. His work bridges Hobbesian contractarianism with modern decision theory.
Developed a game-theoretic account of convention extending David Lewis's framework
Applied inductive deliberation models to explain how agents reach equilibrium in coordination problems
Analyzed the epistemic foundations of Hobbesian social contract theory using formal methods
Contributed to debates on common knowledge, contrasting Aumann's and Stalnaker's models of rationality
Authored Learning and Coordination: Inductive Deliberation, Equilibria, and Convention (2001)