Play as a form of philosophical experience

Abstract

For philosophical practice to be transformative, it should go beyond the intellect and connect to the experiential level. However, engaging in philosophy also requires one to take a certain amount of distance from experience. This article argues that play offers experiences particularly suited to philosophical reflection. Drawing upon Bøyum’s analysis of philosophical experiences and Fink’s analysis of play, it argues that philosophy practitioners would be wise to use play in their work. Different kinds of play - agon, alea, mimicry and illinx - are considered in the light of their potential for delivering different forms of philosophical insight.