Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in CultureAn essential reference for all game designers, this 1938 classic is “a fascinating account of ‘man the player’ and the contribution of play to civilization” (Harper’s). In this classic evaluation of play that has become a “must-read” for those in game design, Dutch philosopher Johan Huizinga defines play as the central activity in flourishing societies. Like civilization, play requires structure and participants willing to create within limits. Starting with Plato, Huizinga traces the contribution of Homo Ludens, or “man the player” through Medieval Times, the Renaissance, and into our modern civilization. Huizinga defines play against a rich theoretical background, using cross-cultural examples from the humanities, business, and politics. Homo Ludens defines play for generations to come. |
Contents
NATURE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF PLAY AS A CULTURAL PHENOMENON | 1 |
THE PLAYCONCEPT AS EXPRESSED IN LANGUAGE | 28 |
PLAY AND CONTEST AS CIVILIZING FUNCTIONS | 46 |
PLAY AND LAW | 76 |
PLAY AND WAR | 89 |
PLAYING AND KNOWING | 105 |
PLAY AND POETRY | 119 |
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Common terms and phrases
According action activity aesthetic agonistic ancient animal answer appearance archaic battle becomes beginning called century certain character characteristics civilization close comes common competition concept connection contest course culture custom dancing element English essential example expression fact feast field force formal function German give Greek hand hence honour human idea ideal imagination important instance justice kind King knowledge languages later less limited literature living matter means mind myth nature once ordinary origin particularly pass performance person philosophy play play-element poetic poetry political primitive proper purely question reason regarded religious remains ritual root rules sacred seems sense serious shows significance social society sometimes sophist speaking sphere spirit thing thought tion true turn virtue whole winning word