Play Saves the World

Episode 103: Wired for Play

Listen Later

Previously, We Discussed How Play is Non-Instrumental, Voluntary, and Unnecessary. And yet, as will discover this episode, it is a necessity for human flourishing. It is the "necessary unnecessity."

Playfulness is ubiquitous for animal life

Playfulness in Ubiquitous to Human Experience Since the Beginning - For Adults Too

  • Royal Game of Ur (2500 BC)
  • Barbara Ehrenreich - Dancing in the Streets - A History of Collective Joy
  • Herodotus - Games invented in Lydia (450 BC)
  • Chess, Go, Backgammon, Mancala - Africa, Asia, Middle East
  • Alfonso's Book of Games (1283)

    • Playfulness is Behind Creativity and Cultural Advancement

    • Steven Johnson - Wonderland: How Play Made the Modern World
    • Banu Musa Brothers (9th century Baghdad)
    • Merlin's Magical Museum (Thomas Denton, 18-19th century England)
    • Punchcards lead to looms lead to computer programming

      • Play is Essential for Human Development

      • Dr. Stuart Brown has written and taught extensively on this topic, discovering that play is essential for emotional, physical, and mental development and health--and that the absence of play can lead to social and emotional challenges later on in life.
      • Jonothan Haidt has recently also argued for the importance of free play for human development

        • Play is Therefore a Basic Human Right

        • J. Drew Lanham - People have fought and died for the right of others to play
        • It is not a luxury; it is an essential part of being human
        • Dave Bindewald - In the face of suffering, our task is not to marginalize play, but to double-down on its importance.

          • Jane McGonigal - Given that We are Wired for Play, How Can We Gamify Life?

          • Would probably still define work and play a little differently than she does (she says play is work we enjoy), but she is great at exploring ways to bring elements of play (voluntary, unnecessary obstacles) to work
          • What are some examples?
          • Quests to do chores
          • Tombstone Hold-Em
          • Crowdsourcing Research - Three Body Problem
          • However, they are still a means to an end.

            • So What's Going On Here? If Play is Unnecessary, Why is it Such a Necessity?

            • On our next episode, the spiritual necessity of play
              • Takeaways
              • Play is a universal and essential part of the human experience, not just for children but also for adults.
              • Playfulness and play have been present throughout history and across cultures, from ancient games to modern-day fashion and coding.
              • Animals also engage in play, demonstrating the innate nature of playfulness.
              • Play is a catalyst for human creativity and cultural achievements, shaping our society and civilization.
              • Play allows for experimentation, exploration, and the development of new ideas and concepts. Play is a universal and essential part of the human experience.
              • Bringing elements of play into other areas of life can lead to increased creativity, team building, and enjoyment.
              • Games can be used to crowdsource solutions to complex problems.
                • Sound Bites
                • "Play is a universal and essential part of the human experience"
                • "Animals play on various levels, demonstrating the innate nature of playfulness"
                • "Playfulness is a major part of human culture and has shaped our creative and cultural achievements"
                • "Energy and capitalism and growth, you know, these new areas and fields inventions come about really through play"
                • "You know, can bypass our normal systems"
                • "Play is not a luxury. It's an essential part of what it means to be human. It's a human right."
                  • CALL TO ACTION
                  • Subscribe to our newsletter
                  • Support us on Patreon
                  • Interact with us on Instagram
                  • Discord us Discord
                    • ...more
                    View all episodesView all episodes
                    Download on the App Store
                    Play Saves the WorldBy Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor