EP 340 Worldviews: Liv Boeree on Poker, Moloch, and the Art of Finding Win-Wins

Science communicator and former professional poker player Liv Boeree maps the scaffolding of her worldview, navigating the intersection of consciousness, game theory, and societal ethics. Consciousness functions as a "radio tuner" interface, contrasting emergent biological models with panpsychic theories. Poker serves as a lens for understanding the blend of rigorous Bayesian calculation and intuitive artistry, while illustrating "Moloch"—a metaphor for competitive traps where individual rational incentives drive collective ruin, such as industrial farming and AI accelerationism. "Norma" emerges as the corresponding demon of bureaucratic centralization and authoritarianism. Mitigating these traps requires institutional design that prioritizes bottom-up coordination and technological alternatives like cultivated meat to replace the systemic cruelty of factory farming.