In Bernard Suits’ modern classic The Grasshopper, a philosophical twist on Aesop’s fable, the Grasshopper posits that in a utopia where all our economic and personal needs were provided for, we would spend a lot of time playing games. This suggests that games are an essential part of the good life! In this course, we will take up the Grasshopper’s hypothesis through a careful study of the nature and value of games. What is a game? Why exactly do games matter? Why do we sometimes welcome the “gamification” of certain tasks, but other times criticize people for treating something “like a game”? We will focus primarily on questions surrounding the meaning, morality, and aesthetics of games. Our investigation will cover all kinds of different games, including (but not limited to) board games, party games, puzzles, and video games.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 16

Prerequisites: One previous course in PHIL or MAS, or permission of the instructor.

Distribution Requirements: REP - Religion, Ethics, and Moral Philosophy

Typical Periods Offered: Every other year

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Not Offered

Notes: