What do players do in a game? A Habermasian perspective

Zhang, Xiaolin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4749-0580, Ryall, Emily S ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6050-4353 and Edgar, Andrew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4556-5147 (2024) What do players do in a game? A Habermasian perspective. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, 50 (3). pp. 311-328. doi:10.1080/00948705.2023.2269427

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Abstract

By adopting Habermas’ communicative theory, this paper categorizes players’ actions into four elements. The strategic action involves players manipulating each other within the framework of a gameFootnote1; normative action is manifested in following the rules and the underlying ethos; dramaturgical action emerges through the players’ deliberate presentation of themselves to both participants and spectators; and communicative action reveals the purpose of a game as a way of being. The conceptualization of game actions leads to a qualitative redefinition of the perfect game, which enables a greater understanding of the game, its participants, and human excellence. As such, this paper’s significance lies in the proposal that the Habermasian perfect game is a potential solution to Suits’ puzzle about what type of games can be played in his Utopia.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of the Philosophy of Sport on 16th October 2023, available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/00948705.2023.2269427.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Habermas; Theory of communicative action; Perfect game; Utopia
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BJ Ethics G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Emily Ryall
Date Deposited:	18 Oct 2023 10:41
Last Modified:	16 Apr 2025 08:00
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/13312

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