Your Undivided Attention What Would It Take to Actually Trust Each Other? The Game Theory Dilemma
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Jan 8, 2026 
In this engaging discussion, Sonja Amadae, a political science professor and author of "Prisoners of Reason," delves into the historical roots of game theory and its often cold logic. She argues that trust, commitment, and solidarity can counteract the competitive mindset it fosters. The conversation explores how game theory affects everything from AI to social interactions, while emphasizing the need to break free from its constraints. Amadae also suggests that embracing cooperative values can reshape our cultural narrative toward a more positive future.
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Game Theory As A Learned Worldview
- Game theory treats the world as a win/lose race and makes cooperation look irrational.
- Sonja Amadae argues this logic is a human invention we can unlearn.
Game Theory Colonizes Daily Life
- Game-theoretic incentives have colonized dating, software, culture, and politics.
- That colonization produces a deadening, inauthentic world focused on measurable wins.
Mathematical Formalism Enabled Cold Logic
- Von Neumann and expected utility theory claimed all value can be monetized and measured.
- That formalism enabled applying game logic to politics and existential threats like nukes.
