Philosophical Perspectives on Play by MacLean, Malcolm; Russell, Wendy; Ryall, Emily;

Short description:

Philosophical Perspectives on Play develops a richer understanding of the concept and nature of play and its relation to human life and value. Organised around four central themes - metaphysics/ontology, ethics, aesthetics and play(ing) at the limits – the book extends and challenges notions of play by drawing on issues emerging in sport, gaming, literature, space and art, with specific attention paid to disruption and danger. It is intended to provide scholars and practitioners working in the spheres of play, education, games, sport and related disciplines with a deeper understanding of philosophical thought and to open dialogue across these disciplines.

Long description:

Philosophical Perspectives on Play builds on the disciplinary and paradigmatic bridges constructed between the study of philosophy and play in The Philosophy of Play (Routledge, 2013) to develop a richer understanding of the concept and nature of play and its relation to human life and value. Made up of contributions from leading international thinkers and inviting readers to explore the presumptions often attached to play and playfulness, the book considers ways that play in ‘virtual’ and ‘real’ worlds can inform understandings of each, critiquing established norms and encouraging scepticism about the practice and experience of play.

Organised around four central themes -- play(ing) at the limits, aesthetics, metaphysics/ontology and ethics -- the book extends and challenges notions of play by drawing on issues emerging in sport, gaming, literature, space and art, with specific attention paid to disruption and danger. It is intended to provide scholars and practitioners working in the spheres of play, education, games, sport and related subjects with a deeper understanding of philosophical thought and to open dialogue across these disciplines.

"I am sure that many other scholars and practitioners of play may be enchanted by reading here and there in this much welcome and highly commendable, and recommendable, work of play and play of work. The Philosophy at Play conference organizers and book editors, Emily Ryall, Wendy Russell, and Malcolm Maclean deserve high praise in deed for their great efforts in reviving play." – Ejgil Jespersen, Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education, idrottsforum.org

Table of Contents:

Introduction  Part 1: Playing at the limits  1. Exile and utopia as Liminal Play: A Cultural-Theoretical Approach  2. Playing war – playing with fire; Dark games  3. Games and evil  4. Posthuman nature: Life beyond the playground  Part 2: Play, aesthetics and performance  5. A disavowal of games  6. Lessons in playing: Robert Morris’ Bodyspacemotionthings 2009 as a biopolitical environment  7. Oasis of happiness: The play of the world and human existence. Eugene Fink’s multidimensional concept of play  8. Homer and competitive play  Part 3: Metaphysics and ontology  9. Homo Ludens in the 21^st century: Towards an understanding of Caillois’ paidia in sports  10. Locating rhythms: Improvised play in the built environment  11. Weltentzug und weltzerfall (world-withdrawal and world-decay): Heidegger’s notions of withdrawal from the world and the decays of worlds in the times of computer games  12. The paradox of rules and freedom: Art and life in the simile of play  Part 4: Ethics of work in play and play in work  13. Philosophy, play and ethics in education  14. Entangled in the midst of it: A diffractive expression of an ethics for playwork  15. "Excess is the key": Community, flow and the play of control in the picture books of Thomas King