The Philosophy of Play [Paperback]

Play is a vital component of the social life and well-being of both children and adults. This book examines the concept of play and considers a variety of the related philosophical issues. It also includes meta-analyses from a range of philosophers and theorists, as well as an exploration of some key applied ethical considerations.

The main objective of The Philosophy of Playis to provide a richer understanding of the concept and nature of play and its relation to human life and value, and to build disciplinary and paradigmatic bridges between scholars of philosophy and scholars of play. Including specific chapters dedicated to children and play, and exploring the work of key thinkers such as Plato, Sartre, Wittgenstein, Gadamer, Deleuze and Nietzsche, this book is invaluable reading for any advanced student, researcher or practitioner with an interest in education, playwork, leisure studies, applied ethics or the philosophy of sport.

Introduction  1. A Pluralist Conception of Play  Randolf Feezell  2. All the Worlds A Stage: Childhood and the Play of Being  John Wall  3. Playing with Words: Further Comment on Suits Definition  Emily Ryall  4. Playing Well: Wittgensteins Language-Games and the Ethics of Discourse  David Egan  5. Gadamer and the Game of Dialectic in Platos Gorgias Barry Dixon  6. Gadamer and the Game of Understanding: Dialogue-Play and Opening to the Other  Monica Vilhauer  7. Language at Play. Games and the Linguistic Turn after Wittgenstein and Gadamer  N?ria Sara Miras Boronat  8. Whoever Cannot Give, Also Receives Nothing: Nietzsches Playful Spectator  Catherine Homan  9. Play and Being in Jean-Paul Sartres Being and Nothingness Beck Pitt  10. Passion Play: Play, Free Will and the Sublime  Thomas Hackett  11. Playing in a Deleuzian playground  Stuart Lester&lS²