People at play
People at play
In the games of children and the pastimes of adults alike, the capacity for play, for following one's fancy with no thought of immediate gain, is central to the human experience. Biologists and ethologists have demonstrated that play, which is closely bound up with the urge to explore and to satisfy one's curiosity, is a springboard for learning and discovery among human beings and indeed all the higher animals. Many philosophers think that humankind is too pragmatic and serious by half and that if we want to go back to a more authentic, freer and more worthwhile form of existence, we must rediscover the instinct for play.
ft is already common practice in industry, finance, the armed forces and research to use simulation games to understand complex situations and engage in decision-making. Play is now even coming to be regarded in some quarters as the method of communication of the future. But at school, which has so strong an influence on every society, has there always been enough concern to preserve the role of play in children's education?
The amount of importance attached to spontaneous play can tell us much about the basic features of a culture. In industrialized societies, for example, play - in the guise of sports, show business or toys - is often at the mercy of the profit motive, with the result that there is a gulf between paid professionals and paying spectators, whose role is a passive one.
Other societies have at times been more successful in preserving the innocence of play and have maintained a judicious balance between play and more serious matters. But how long can this last? If, as some people think, the human species as we know it could not have evolved without the spirit of play, is it not essential to preserve or rekindle that spirit? Today some people are trying to do this by seeking to revive traditional games and sports.
History is full of games that are now shrouded in mystery. Our future will depend on our ability to create not only new techniques, but also new societies and cultures; on our ability, in a word, to continue playing freely.
Adel Rifaat, Editor-in-Chief, and Bahgat Elnadi, Director