PHIL 2020H Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Hans-Georg Gadamer, Lucid Dream, Gift Wrapping
26 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Learning to socialize
•
Fun
•
Independent reality
•
Creativity
•
Expression
•
What is play?
Imagination
•
Toys
•
Cardboard boxes
○
Pots and pans
○
Wrapping paper
○
Everything
•
What do we play with?
Everyone
•
Who do we play with?
Gadamer begins his essay by noting how questionable the gap between humans and others
•
What distinguishes humans?
Lucid dreaming and the made up worlds
○
… namely, sometimes we have rules in our play. We create a world that shapes and limits the
play but which we can leave at any moment. We can stop playing and go back to the real life
rules
•
He does draw a slight difference between humans and animals at play, though
As if allows for participation
○
As in gym- did you take it seriously, participation mark in gym class
○
Fundamental rule in play- as if structure, act as if we were ….
•
Operate by a different set of rules in play
•
More than what you need, without it, we just have necessities
○
Not just the as if structure- excess is too
•
What is at the issue in the play of art…and what are about (130)
○
Play is not about escapism for Gadamer. He is speaking about the play of art here but one can
see how it applies to genuine play of any type:
•
Play is not peripheral to real life
•
Play is seriousness, freedom, and limitation; all wrapped up together and channeled into
creating sense (through fun) or as Gadamer states: play is less the opposite of seriousness
than the vital ground of spirit as nature, a form of restraint and freedom at one and the same
time
•
The as if structure'
Gadamer
January 11, 2018
11:58 AM
Philosophy of Sport and Recreation Page 1
Document Summary
Gadamer begins his essay by noting how questionable the gap between humans and others. He does draw a slight difference between humans and animals at play, though. (cid:374)a(cid:373)ely, so(cid:373)eti(cid:373)es (cid:449)e ha(cid:448)e rules i(cid:374) our play. We (cid:272)reate a (cid:449)orld that shapes a(cid:374)d li(cid:373)its the play but which we can leave at any moment. We can stop playing and go back to the real life rules. Fundamental rule in play- as if stru(cid:272)ture, a(cid:272)t as if (cid:449)e (cid:449)ere . As in gym- did you take it seriously, participation mark in gym class. Operate by a different set of rules in play. Not just the as if structure- excess is too. More than what you need, without it, we just have necessities. He is speaking about the play of art here but one can see how it applies to genuine play of any type: What is at the issue i(cid:374) the play of art a(cid:374)d (cid:449)hat are a(cid:271)out (cid:894)(cid:1005)3(cid:1004)(cid:895)
