The discussion revolves around ancient practices concerning the settlement of debts after death, analyzed through the lens of game theory. The concept suggests that these practices could be viewed as strategic moves made by families in a communal context, where the outcomes depended on cooperation and competition between the living and institutions. The commenters draw a connection to ancient computation and communication devices, such as the hydraulic MONIAC computer and the hydraulic telegraph, potentially suggesting that these ancient systems may have informed modern economic theories and practices.