The Profound Influence of Games on Human Society

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Exploring the historical significance of games from shaping our understanding of probability during the Renaissance to the development of game theory by John von Neumann and Oscar Morgenstern. The chapter discusses the impact of games on decision-making strategies in various fields, including military operations and politics, while cautioning against oversimplifying human behavior through game models.

Games often get a bad rap as mere distractions, the frivolous filler between so-called "important things." But research into the connection between people and games reveals that they’re not just beneficial—they're essential. This week, Adam is joined by bioscientist and neurophysicist Kelly Clancy, author of Playing with Reality: How Games Have Shaped Our World, to explore the pivotal role games play in our development, history, and even in the natural world beyond humans. Find Kelly's book at factuallypod.com/books

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