Finite and Infinite Games: A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility

160 Pages·1986·7.64 MB·english

by  James P. Carse

FINITE
AND
INFINITE
GAMES
JAMES P. CARSE
Iffil
THE FREE PRESS
A Division of Macmillan, Inc.
New York
Copyright © 1986 by James P. Carse
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Publisher.
The Free Press
A Division of Macmillan, Inc.
866 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022
Collier Macmillan Canada, Inc.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 86-14304
Printed in the United States of America
Library or Congress Cataloglng-In-Publlcatlon Data
Carse, James P.
Finite and infinite games.
Includes index.
1. Life. 2. Games-Symbolic aspects. 3. Religion.
4. Philosophy. I. Title.
BD431.C297 1986 110 86-14304
ISBN 0-02-905980-1
This book is dedicated to
Alisa, Keene, and lamie, ofc ourse.

CONTENTS
ONE: There Are at Least Two Kinds of Games
TWO: No One Can Playa Game Alone 35
THREE: I Am the Genius of Myself 65
FOUR: A Finite Game Occurs Within a World 87
FIVE: Nature Is the Realm of the Unspeakable 97
SIX: We Control Nature for Societal Reasons 115
SEVEN: Myth Provokes Explanation 137
but Accepts None of It
Index 151

ONE
THERE ARE AT
Two
LEAST
KINDS Of
GAMES