Non-Zero-Sum James

A podcast where I read my blog to you, and chit-chat a little. I'm Non-Zero-Sum James, your companion on this exploration of win-win games and how they are essential for a better future. I've been writing here at nonzerosum.games for a couple of years now, and decided it was finally time to reproduce the content in the form in which I usually consume media, audio. So, playing catch-up, every couple of days I'll be reading from the blog, exploring a new aspect of game theory, moral philosophy, ethical economics and AI—looking for solutions to the complex problems we face in our world together.

Rights & Liberties—are opposites

I'm always trying to picture in my mind what sort of society I want to live in. To do this is to balancing the freedoms I'm willing to forego in order to provide rights that we determine to be essential to a healthy society. | This week's episode explores the new way of looking at Rights & Liberties, as a way of codifying this process, rather being used as vaguely interchangeable terms. | For the original post and references visit: https://nonzerosum.games/rightsandliberties.html

10-02
09:10

Why People in Poverty Make Poor Decisions

In this episode we make the case for giving money to people who are bad with money! | For the original post and links visit: https://nonzerosum.games/poverty.html

09-26
05:50

Saving Lives Reduces Overpopulation

I will be making the case that somewhat counter-intuitively, by saving lives we actually reduce over-population. | For the full post and references: https://nonzerosum.games/savinglives.html

09-06
11:04

Effortocracy ~ I've had meritocracy all wrong

've been wrong about the meaning of Meritocracy, and for good reason, there are many different definitions—the term has been used as a pejorative, as an aspirational term, as a definition of a government, and as a general way of allocating credit to individuals. But I understood it as this: A society where a person's rewards reflect their efforts (merit) | For links, pictures and references check out the original post here: https://nonzerosum.games/effortocracy.html

08-29
14:10

Saidi, My Friend

This episode begins a series on luck and circumstances, and asks "What do we owe to each other?" | For the original post and links visit: https://nonzerosum.games/saidi.html

08-23
08:36

Goodhart's Law ~ the problem with singular goals

This is one of those ideas that constantly recurs in my mind throughout my day, one of those perspective-affecting mental models that helps me navigate the world, and hopefully will do the same for you. | For the full post and links: https://nonzerosum.games

08-19
11:24

We Don't Just Let People Die ~ so what next?

A lot of politics out in the world appears to me at any rate to be based around a sort of kill-or-be-killed mentality, is if we live an the wild, and need to let nature sort the strong from the weak... but that's not the actual world we live in, so that political mentality is... well, nonsense.A rambling stream of consciousness about what to do in a society, like ours, when we, thankfully don't let citizens needlessly die. | For the full ramble, links and sources: https://nonzerosum.games/wedontletpeopledie.html

08-16
15:57

Looking to the Future ~ a simple recycling idea: part 3

Let's take a look through our crystal ball at Glass Bottle Utopia. What are the problems, and who's solving them? | For the original article, links and pictures visit: https://nonzerosum.games/betterrecycling3.html

08-09
07:30

Putting it on Plastic

In part 2 of our series on recycling we look into the problems with plastic recycling and the importance of disincentivising the use of plastics. | For the original article, including useful links and references visit: https://nonzerosum.games/betterrecycling2.html

08-04
04:39

8 Bottles ~ a Simple Recycling Idea

This series of 3 episodes are about recycling, and specifically an idea I'd like to put forward as a workable solution for governments, business and the environment—8 different standard-sized glass bottles and jars. | For illustrations and sources visit the original page: https://nonzerosum.games/betterrecycling.html

08-01
02:53

Negative Moral Licensing ~ the even eviler twin

Moral licensing is a well researched and understood phenomenon—I'm proposing something slightly different: negative moral licensing, where, instead of using our previous good actions to justify misbehaviour, we use the real or perceived misbehaviour of others to license ours. | https://nonzerosum.games/morallicensing2.html

07-14
05:52

Moral Licensing ~ the makings of a very Negative-Sum Game

Moral licensing is when you use previous virtuous actions to justify less than virtuous behaviour next... There are lots of studies referenced in this episode, you can find links to them all in the text of the original post. Have fun exploring the links, and of course all the pictures. | Original Post: https://nonzerosum.games/morallicensing1.html

07-12
05:16

A Positive Double Standard

I have a confession: As a teenager I was desperate to learn how to win friends and influence people, to think and grow rich and develop the habits of highly effective people (seven to be precise)—I am James and I am a self-help-oholic. | Find the original blog + links here: https://nonzerosum.games/positivedoublestandard.html | If you'd like to check out the emergence series (mentioned in the episode) here it is: https://nonzerosum.games/emergencespirals.html

07-02
14:31

A Kindness Equation

This week we ask the question: what's more effective, charity or volunteering? The answer, is, as always more complicated than that. If you're thinking about how you can best spend your efforts in making the world a better place, this is the episode for you. | The original post and links are here: https://nonzerosum.games/kindnessequation.html

06-28
05:20

Capitalism ~ a Zero-Sum Game?

This episode we look objectively at the question "is capitalism a zero sum game?" the answer might be surprising. | For the original post and links: https://nonzerosum.games/capitalism.html

06-23
09:06

Evil Globalisation ~ and how it's Eliminating Global Poverty

On globalisation, and how it might just surprise you. | For the original post and links: https://nonzerosum.games/globalisation.html

06-18
05:43

Relative Gains ~ How not to Measure Success

We join Diderot, a very bright man made a fool by circumstance, to introduce an essential idea in understanding economics and non-zero-sum games—the issue of relative vs absolute gains. | For the original post, including links and references visit: https://nonzerosum.games/absolutevsrelative.html

06-15
07:55

Diminishing Returns ~ On Happiness

Ever noticed that the first slice of pizza is always the best and each slice afterwards never quite matches up? Well, welcome to The Law of Diminishing Returns. | For links and more info: https://nonzerosum.games/diminishingreturns.html

06-12
08:02

Movie Night

Every Friday our family settles in for family movie night—it's the highlight of the week, especially for the person who's "turn" it is—my wife, daughter and I take turns sharing a movie we love. Our eventual decision to take turns reflects the conclusions of game theory's... The Battle of the Sexes. | To continue exploring check out the main page: https://nonzerosum.games/battleofthesexes.html

06-09
05:51

Arusha Perpetual Chicken

Inspired by a recent trip to Tanzania, I couldn't help see game theory in action. | For links and pics: https://nonzerosum.games/chicken.html

06-06
08:37

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