Life is a Game

Hello!

Just want to ask you a question. Do you also like to play? If yes than what do you play?

Perhaps you've heard of a theory that claims that our entire culture is built on the game.

Let's drop a bit about how it was introduced earlier.

Maybe you heard about a theory that claims that our entire culture is built in Ancient Greece and in ancient Rome and for this countries is really important the idea of a game. In these cultures there was such a thing as "agon". In other words, "agon" is a contest or struggle. The principle of agonism was imbued with the whole of ancient culture throughout all ages, when it existed. Agon could be observed in sports, music, poetics, on the stage of theaters. It is very interesting what ratio agon had to the theater. The whole thing was that there was a speech duel on stage, in which two antagonists competed. A on the game.

The science of "culture" or in other words "anthropology" originated in the 20th century. As a doctrine, it originated in the second third of the 18th century, but as a discipline - only in the 20th. One of the most important scientist in anthropology of 20th century was Johan Huizinga. Johan Huizinga is a Dutch scientist who wrote several very important books for science and developed several ideas. One of such an idea he described in his book: "Homo ludens" or in English - "Man playing". Since then, there have been many other books describing a person from the standpoint of the game, for example the book by Eric Berne: "Games People Play."

So that's it. Johan Huizinga himself studied ancient culture and the first one who spoke about the fact that back in those days the concept of the game was important. Moreover, he believed that the game is important not only for people but also for animals.

Also Johan Huizinga could notice that the very concept of the game exists in all peoples and languages. He could find words expressing the game from the most ancient languages, for example, in Sanskrit.

Studying the attitude towards the game, Huizinga comes to an interesting conclusion. From his point the correct statement, stemming from a long and painstaking analysis, is the following: "Culture arises in the form of play, culture is initially played out." However, over time and the development of society, the attitude to the game is changing. According to Huizinga, the game element as a whole recedes as the culture develops into the background. She retreats into literature, sports, poetry. All these spheres become a common field for the game.

According to Huizinga the game is not equal to culture. But sometimes we can meet some games in which a person can determine for themselves any aesthetic and moral values. Exactly in this case, the game is elevated to the rank of culture. As the author said: "The more the game can increase the intensity of life of an individual or a group of people, the more it dissolves in culture."

I cannot say that I fully agree with the opinion of this scientist. It is difficult for me personally to imagine that man has become a modern man only thanks to the game. I read a lot of literature relating to human evolution and anthropology. And from all that I read, I got the impression that the monkey evolved into man only through work. Due to the fact that for survival it was necessary constantly to learn something new to adapt to enviremental. Yes, it's clear that the game was present. But I'm not sure that it was the main reason. Before enjoying the game, having fun, a person needs to know that tomorrow he will have food, today he has a roof over his head and clothes. These are the most basic needs and they must be satisfied.

Also, it is very difficult for me personally to imagine that all the phenomena of culture can be characterized by only one game. Yes, I can believe that sports contain the element of the game. When people go in for sports or compete, they want to win. I can believe that the poet is also playing partly. Poets are very interesting pick up rhymes, words. Personally for me, this process also looks like a small and very exciting game. But how can you understand war through the prism of the game? How can science be understood through the prism of the game?

And what drives ideas: "life is a game." In my opinion, this makes sense. In my opinion, it's much easier to live when a person does not take things super-seriously, but as if a little playful. It makes life easier. All my life I did all my deals really seriously. And some time ago I could understand that this is very binding me. I'm afraid of being defeated, so sometimes I do not even start doing things. And when you relate to the situation as a game, it becomes easier and more comfortable immediately. Because nothing terrible will happend if I will make a mistake.