What Would It Take to Actually Trust Each Other? The Game Theory Dilemma

The podcast explores the pervasive influence of game theory on society, arguing it reduces human interactions to cold, strategic calculations and undermines trust. Sonja Amadae, a professor of political science, discusses how game theory, initially designed to formalize parlor games, has infiltrated various domains, from nuclear strategy to AI development. This logic assumes value is scarce, competition is inevitable, and cooperation is for "suckers," leading to a deadening of culture and relationships. Examples include the colonization of dating through pickup artistry and the design of addictive software. The discussion highlights the prisoner's dilemma and the AI arms race as manifestations of this game-theoretic mindset, emphasizing the need to reintroduce trust, solidarity, and commitment into decision-making processes.