The Grasshopper: Games, Life and UtopiaIn the mid twentieth century the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein famously asserted that games are indefinable; there are no common threads that link them all. "Nonsense," says the sensible Bernard Suits: "playing a game is a voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles." The short book Suits wrote demonstrating precisely that is as playful as it is insightful, as stimulating as it is delightful. Suits not only argues that games can be meaningfully defined; he also suggests that playing games is a central part of the ideal of human existence, so games belong at the heart of any vision of Utopia. Originally published in 1978, The Grasshopper is now re-issued with a new introduction by Thomas Hurka and with additional material (much of it previously unpublished) by the author, in which he expands on the ideas put forward in The Grasshopper and answers some questions that have been raised by critics. |
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A small book with a powerful punch.
Each chapter is a story to illustrate another proof of this statement: "playing a game is a voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles'
Philosophically deep while holding interest.
Well done!
Contents
Introduction | 7 |
Preface | 21 |
The Players | 24 |
CHAPTER ONE Death of the Grasshopper | 25 |
CHAPTER TWO Disciples | 31 |
CHAPTER THREE Construction of a definition | 37 |
CHAPTER FOUR Triflers cheats and spoil sports | 57 |
CHAPTER FIVE Taking the long way home | 61 |
CHAPTER NINE Reverse English | 89 |
CHAPTER TEN The remarkable career of Porphyryo Sneak | 95 |
CHAPTER ELEVEN The case history of Bartholomew Drag | 109 |
CHAPTER TWELVE Open games | 119 |
CHAPTER THIRTEEN Amateurs professionals and Games People Play | 129 |
CHAPTER FOURTEEN Resurrection | 141 |
CHAPTER FIFTEEN Resolution | 149 |
Introduction to the Appendices | 161 |
CHAPTER SIX Ivan and Abdul | 67 |
CHAPTER SEVEN Games and paradox | 77 |
CHAPTER EIGHT Mountain climbing | 85 |
Appendix 2 | 174 |
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Common terms and phrases
Abdul accept achieve activity affairs agree aims analysis answer appears ball begin believe called called games chess claim clear complete condition consider consideration consist constitutive course define definition described distinction Drag efficient effort engaged evidently example existence expression fact find first further gain game playing give going golf Grasshopper hand ideal important interested intrinsically involves Ivan killing kind least less limited look lusory attitude make-believe means moral moves necessary objection once paradox performing perhaps permitted person philosophical pieces players playing a game playing games playing the game possible precisely prelusory goal present principle professionals Prudence question race reason replied requires respect response roles rules running seems simply Skepticus Smith Sneak suggest suppose sure tell things thought true trying Utopia winning
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Grasshopper: Games, Life and Utopia |
| Author | Bernard Suits |
| Contributor | Thomas Hurka |
| Publisher | Broadview Press, 2005 |
| ISBN | 1770480110, 9781770480117 |
| Length | 179 pages |
| Subjects | › Philosophy / General Sports & Recreation / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |