It is now widely acknowledged that play is central to our lives. As a phenomenon, play poses important questions of reality, subjectivity, competition, inclusion and exclusion. This international collection is the third in a series of books (including The Philosophy of Play and Philosophical Perspectives on Play) that aims to build paradigmatic bridges between scholars of philosophy and scholars of play.

Divided into four sections (Play as Life, Play as Games, Play as Art and Play as Politics), this book sheds new light on the significance of play for both children and adults in a variety of cultural settings. Its chapters encompass a range of philosophical areas of enquiry such as metaphysics, aesthetics and ethics, and the spectrum of topics explored includes games, jokes, sport and our social relationship with the Internet.

With contributions from established and emerging scholars from around the world, The Philosophy of Play as Life is fascinating reading for all those with an interest in playwork, the ethics and philosophy of sport, childhood studies or the philosophy of education.

About the Author

Wendy Russell is a senior lecturer in Play and Playwork at the University of Gloucestershire, UK and a consultant on children's play and playwork. Together with Emily Ryall and Malcolm MacLean, she is a co-founder of the biennial Philosophy at Play conferences. Key publications include, co-authored with Stuart Lester, Play for a Change (2008) and Children's Right to Play (2010). She co-edited The Philosophy of Play (2013) and Philosophical Perspectives on Play (2016) with Emily Ryall and Malcolm MacLean, and Practice-based Research on Children's Play (2017) with Stuart Lester and Hilary Smith. She is on the editorial board of the International Journal of Play.

Emily Ryall is a senior lecturer in the Philosophy of Sport and Exercise at the University of Gloucestershire, UK. She is author of Philosophy of Sport: Key Questions and Critical Thinking for Sports Students, as well as editing author of Philosophy of Play and Philosophical Perspectives on Play. She is associate editor for the Journal of the Philosophy of Sport and former chair of the British Philosophy of Sport Association. Her website is emilyryall.net and her Twitter handle is @emilyryall.

Malcolm MacLean is a reader in the Culture and History of Sport at the University of Gloucestershire, UK. He has previously taught history in New Zealand, and worked as a policy analyst and historian in the New Zealand Ministry of Justice. His publications deal with cultural boycotts and sports-related anti-apartheid protests, the cultural politics of settlement colonies and discourses of indigeneity associated with sport, body, and movement cultures. Malcolm is actively involved in international sports studies networks and was Chair of the British Society of Sports History. He is an editor with Wendy Russell and Emily Ryall of Philosophy of Play (Routledge, 2013) and Philosophical Perspectives on Play (Routledge, 2016).

Reviews

"I am sure that many other scholars and practitioners of play may be enchanted by reading here and there in this much welcome and highly commendable, and recommendable, work of play and play of work. The Philosophy at Play conference organizers and book editors, Emily Ryall, Wendy Russell, and Malcolm Maclean deserve high praise in deed for their great efforts in reviving play." - Ejgil Jespersen, Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education, idrottsforum.org

Book Information
ISBN 9780367247515
Author Wendy Russell
Format Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 385g