Moloch
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Moloch, as discussed in the , is a metaphorical figure representing detrimental aspects of societal structures and competitive behaviors that result in a "lose-lose" situation. Liv Boeree explains how Moloch acts as a "generator function" for existential risks, driving societal issues by incentivizing detrimental competition, often at the expense of broader benefits 1.
Historically, Moloch was a demon god associated with child sacrifice in ancient cultures, used as a metaphor for sacrificing what one values for power or competitive advantage. This concept has been extended to modern societal competitions, such as the use of beauty filters on social media to gain an advantage, which ultimately leads to a "race to the bottom" 2.
The metaphor has also been explored in literature and film, representing destructive forces that consume human efforts and values to sustain powerful, yet detrimental, systems like those seen in the movie "Metropolis" 3.
In efforts to address the negative impact of Moloch, the concept of "Win-Win"—the antithesis of Moloch—was introduced, emphasizing cooperation and positive-sum games that benefit all participants 4.
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