Finite and Infinite Games

"Finite and Infinite Games" is a book by the philosopher James P. Carse. [cite book|author=Carse, James P.|title=Finite and Infinite Games|publisher=Ballantine Books|location=New York|year=|pages=|isbn=0-345-34184-8|oclc=|doi=]

ummary

In the book, Carse demonstrates a way of looking at actions in life as being a part of at least two types of what he describes as "games", finite and infinite. Both games are played within rules, as agreed upon by the participants; however, the meaning of the rules are different between the two types of games. The book stresses a non-serious (or "playful") view of life, often referring to people as "players", their choices as "moves", and societal constructs and mores as "rules" and "boundaries".

His idea is that when a person sees themselves as "playing" in "games" usually seen as serious events, they are more likely to keep an open mind and find themselves less bothered by things that might have troubled them a lot in the past (although that can be an overgeneralized statement, as Carse frequently stresses that sometimes seriousness is a required rule of play in a finite game).

He regularly uses familiar terms in similar, but more metaphorical meanings – such as his use of the terms boundaries vs. horizons in that boundaries are "rules" that one must stay within when playing a finite game, while horizons move with the player, and are constantly changing as he or she "plays". The use of "deeper" meanings to everyday words is a common tool in the book.

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In short, a finite game is played with the purpose of winning (thus ending the game), while an infinite game is played with the purpose of continuing the play.

Finite games have a definite beginning and ending. They are played with the goal of winning. A finite game is resolved within the context of its rules, with a winner of the contest being declared and receiving a victory. The rules exist to ensure the game is finite. Examples are debates, sports, receiving a degree from an educational institution, culture, language, or war. Beginning to participate in a finite game requires conscious thought, and is voluntary; continued participation in a round of the game is involuntary. Even exiting the game early must be provided for by the rules. This may be likened to a zero sum game (though not all finite games are literally zero sum, in that the sum of positive outcomes can vary).

Infinite games, on the other hand, do not have a knowable beginning or ending. They are played with the goal of continuing play. An infinite game continues play, for sake of play. If the game is approaching resolution because of the rules of play, the rules must be changed to allow continued play. The rules exist to ensure the game is infinite. The only known example is life. Beginning to participate in an infinite game is involuntary, in that it doesn't require conscious thought. Continuing participation in the current round of game-play is voluntary. "It is an invariable principle of all play, finite and infinite, that whoever plays, plays freely" (p. 4).

Carse applies these to human society further along in the book; he describes human pursuits as either theatrical or dramatic. Theatrical pursuits are those that do not "require" participation, such as being a politician, mechanic, and farmer. Carse points out that we must consent to be those things, and therefore are theatrical.

Quotes

*

"The rules of the finite game may not change; the rules of an infinite game "must" change.

Finite players play within boundaries; infinite players play "with" boundaries.
Finite players are serious; infinite games are playful.
A finite player plays to be powerful; an infinite player plays with strength.
A finite player consumes time; an infinite player generates time.
The finite player aims for eternal life; the infinite player aims for eternal birth.

"The choice is yours."

* "There is but one infinite game."

References

ee also

* [http://www.glg.net/pdf/Finite_Infinite_Games.pdf Excerpt from the book]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-962221125884493114 Religious War in Light of the Infinite Game] -(on Google Video)