Mapping humanity
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GerelateerdPoll - prisoner's dilemma
Defecting is the rational choice, the case where both players defect is the only Nash Equilibrium (assuming the opponent defects the player can't do any better than defecting too, assuming the player defects the opponent can't do any better than defecting too). But cooperating probably is the emotional choice. 
I think you wanted to say, no matter what the opponent does, the player can't do any better than defect (supposing he wants the best outcome for himself). The same is true for his opponent, and that's why the situation in which both players defect is the only Nash-equilibrium. But it's funny that when both players would cooperate, they would both have a better outcome than when they both defect.Cooperating can also be the rational choice if you think in terms of 'we' instead of 'I'. Eventually, this is also the best choice for the 'I', i believe. If humanity would understand this, many problems on earth wouldn't exist 
Cooperating can also be rational, if you consider an iterated (repeated) case of this problem. Then defecting will (usually) be punished by the other player and cooperating would be the best choice for both players (and defecting to correct/punish the opponent). That's probably a more real-world situation.But in this case, I would be more careful and defect by default (unless I trust my opponent).