1, #106 - Infinite Games
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A few years ago, I came across a framework that has stuck with me: Finite vs. Infinite Games.
Originally developed by religious studies professor & game theorist (what a combo!) James Carse, the idea is that everything we do can be framed as one or the other:
Finite games have a start point and end point, set players, clear rules, and distinct winners and losers.
Infinite games have no end point, revolving players, evolving rules, and the only form of winning is continuing to play.
Any sport is a finite game. Fitness is an infinite game. Companies create finite games for themselves to hit specific objectives, but business itself is an infinite game.
Finite games can be fun or beneficial, but we have an unfortunate tendency to approach everything through that lens. And we run into problems when we try to play infinite games like they’re finite—trying to “win” at work or education or relationships. By reframing the nature of these things, we can approach them differently.
What parts of your life would benefit from some infinite perspective?
Insight inspired by: Dr. Carse and his book, Finite and Infinite Games. And my old boss, Simon Sinek, who was inspired by Carse and wrote The Infinite Game to explore this idea in the context of business.
I didn’t know Carse’s background.