How to Know What’s Real

How to Know What's Real: How to Win at Real Life

Jun 10, 2024

32:18

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Associate philosophy professor C. Thi Nguyen discusses how games can shape our understanding of trust, collaboration, and new realities. They explore the timeless and transcendent nature of games, role-playing in video and board games, racial bias in gaming, and the complexities of value systems.

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Quick takeaways

Games provide a safe space to explore reality and shape new realities.

Playing games helps in practicing decision-making, learning boundaries, and fostering empathy.

Deep dives

Games and Their Timeless Appeal

Games have evolved from basic ones like Monopoly to complex video games, but they tap into a primal desire for play, connecting us across time and cultures. They offer a unique way to explore aspects of ourselves and transport us to different mental states. Games blur the line between reality and fantasy, providing deep insights and life lessons.

Playing Games to Explore Values

01:35

Exploring the Depths of Games and Meditation through Rock Climbing

03:34

Learning Manipulation and Negotiation through Board Games

01:20

Intro

1min

Exploring the Timeless Nature of Games

2min

Exploring the Transcendent Nature of Games

9min

Exploring Role-Playing in Video and Board Games

8min

Racial Bias in Games and the Complexities of Value Systems

10min

Games can serve as an escape from reality—but they can also shape our understanding of trust, collaboration, and what might be possible IRL. Megan Garber talks with C. Thi Nguyen, an associate philosophy professor at the University of Utah, to better understand how games can help us safely explore our current reality and shape new realities, too.

Write to us at howtopodcast@theatlantic.com.

Music by Forever Sunset (“Spring Dance”), baegel (“Cyber Wham”), Etienne Roussel (“Twilight”), Dip Diet (“Sidelined”), Ben Elson (“Darkwave”), and Rob Smierciak (“Whistle Jazz”).

How to Know What's Real is produced by Natalie Brennan. Our editors are Claudine Ebeid and Jocelyn Frank. Fact-check by Ena Alvarado. Our engineer is Rob Smierciak. The executive producer of audio is Claudine Ebeid, and the managing editor of audio is Andrea Valdez.

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