The Infinite Game as a Metaphor for Education for Sustainability Niki Harre University of Auckland
Finite and Infinite Games James Carse The infinite game The purpose is to continue the game Invites others in Any single player is not needed and cannot finish the game Looks to the future and does not assume the past will reoccur The rules must change over time or the game will cease Provokes creativity Finite games The purpose is to win the game Include only select people Each player is needed and must always be alert, to relax is dangerous Players try to replicate the winning strategies of the past and assume the past reoccurs The rules must not change for the duration of the game Provoke replication International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 2
Infinite Game Finite Game
Infinite Game Finite Game
Finite Game Finite Game Finite Game Finite Game Finite Game Finite Game
Finite and Infinite Games The infinite game Finite games International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 6
Finite and Infinite Games James Carse The infinite game The purpose is to continue the game Invites others in Any single player is not needed and cannot finish the game Looks to the future and does not assume the past will reoccur The rules must change over time or the game will cease Provokes creativity Finite games The purpose is to win the game Include only select people Each player is needed and must always be alert, to relax is dangerous Players try to replicate the winning strategies of the past and assume the past reoccurs The rules must not change for the duration of the game Provoke replication International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 7
Finite and Infinite Games James Carse The infinite game Can be elicited by rituals, places, settings, people and mind-sets The currency of the infinite game is that which is of infinite value Finite games Can be elicited by rituals, places, settings, people and mind-sets The currency of the finite game is that which is of finite value International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 8
That which is of infinite value Of value for its own sake That which makes the world truly alive In any dimension an emotion, relationship, part of the natural world, a quality, an object Please write down three things of infinite value. You will share two of these with the group. International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 9
Car Car Oceans and Seas Oceans and Seas Vegetation Vegetation Food Food Flowers Flowers Water Water Life Life Equality Equality Sunlight Sunlight Free Space (e.g. beach, forest Free Space (e.g. beach, forest Belonging Belonging The Sun The Sun Sun Sun Human Morality Human Morality Waterfalls Waterfalls People People communication communication Home Home Elation Elation Laughter Laughter Freedom Freedom Hope Hope Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Running Running Dolphins Dolphins Animals Animals Animals Animals Altruism Altruism Colour Colour
Nature Nature Ocean Ocean Friends Friends Laughter Laughter God God Parents Parents Knowledg e Knowledg e A positive outlook A positive outlook Empathy Empathy Basketball Basketball Mental wellbeing Mental wellbeing Rugby Rugby Trut h Trut h Communication Communication Weekends Weekends car car A sense of humour A sense of humour Laughter Laughter Nature Nature Nature Nature Ambition Ambition Support Support Friends Friends
Education Education Faith Faith Compassion Compassion Knowledg e and love Knowledg e and love Food Food Community Community Nature: food, water, air Nature: food, water, air Technology Technology Experience Experience God God Transport Transport Water Water communication communication Sport Sport Books Books Laughing Laughing Selflessness Selflessness Laughter Laughter Respect Respect Trees Trees Friends Friends Excitement Excitement Hope Hope Maths Maths Environment Environment Hugs Hugs Pride Pride Electric guitar Electric guitar Friendships Friendships Friendships Friendships communication communication communication communication Smiles Smiles Laughter Laughter Humour Humour Compassion Compassion Nature, specifically trees Nature, specifically trees Environment Environment Water Water Water Water Food Food Food Food Technology Technology Sport Sport Sport Sport Time Time Time Time
Smile Smile Toilet paper Toilet paper Education Education Understanding or learning Understanding or learning Cooking Cooking Communication Communication Sleeping Sleeping Fruits Fruits Health Health Serenity Serenity Water Water My cat My cat Walk Walk Laughing Laughing Exercise Exercise Stories Stories Peace Peace Positivity Positivity Honour Honour Freedom Freedom Hunger Hunger Knowledge Knowledge Professions Professions Sunshine Sunshine Rock climbing Rock climbing Colour Colour Education Education Communication Communication Water Water Water Water Stand up comedy Stand up comedy Happy Happy Laughing /joking Laughing /joking Faith Faith
Clouds Clouds Air Resources Resources Nature Nature Imagination The Ocean The Ocean Life Algorith m Internet Art and Creativit y Water Compassion Faith Passion Passion Consciousness Knowledge Knowledge Leadership - management - government Hope Regret Regret Anger Home Emotions Communication Communication Communication Community Patience Home country Success Potential Determination Strength Dream Choice Good morals Good morals Freedom Freedom Freedom of thought Car Spirit
What did you notice about that which is of infinite value? International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 15
Please make a paper dart Any style! International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 16
The object of this game, is to keep the game in play International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 17
That which is of finite value Of value because of what it signifies or enables Of value because a group of people deem it so In any dimension an emotion, relationship, part of the natural world, a quality, an object Please write down three things of finite value. You will share two of these with the group. International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 18
Youthful looks Antiques Sports Car Lamborghini University degree Diamonds Houses Profit Housing Position Status Mortgage Status Winning Work Marriage Motherhood Work Wealth Food Marathons $ $ $ $ Mone y Political Ideologs Liberal L + R Power Rules Authority Conversation
Qualifications E = mc2 E = mc2 History Plastic Profession Cows PhD Being an expert Land Resources Planet Earth Title Status (FB/otherwise) High paying job High paying job Land ownership Coal Gaia Position Prestigious job Success Leadership Winning A big house A big house Mother Diamonds Gold An America s Cup Yacht Make up Make up Space Travel Ferrari Patriotism Reciprocity A rare stamp Honesty
Computers Facebook Facebook Bicycle Shoes Shoes Fear iphones Kayak Clothes Walls TV Media Brompton Bike Material possessions Fashion Power / Control Qualifications Car Status symbols Barbie dolls Barbie dolls Economy Prestige Laws / rules Laws / rules Title/Peerag e Car Consume r goods Cars A holiday A holiday Expensive house & car Chocolate Degrees/jobs Status Status High status High status House Location of Residence Alcohol / Drugs Alcohol / Drugs Sex Job title Job title Job High pay High pay Winning a race Winning a race Competition Job Job Resources Wealth Resources Plastic Oil $ AU $ AU $ Coal Currency Mone y Fresh water Fresh water Gold Coal
What did you notice about that which is of finite value? International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 22
The object of this game is to win Rules The winner is the person with the most darts There can be only one winner You must not grab a dart from another person You must not make new darts International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 23
The object of this game is to win Rules The winner is the team with the most darts There can be a team of three winners You must not grab a dart from another person You must not make new darts International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 24
What did you notice about the differences between the three dart games? International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 25
Implications for Education for Sustainability Do not expect students to behave as you hope, but hope they behave as you do not expect Goals and programmes are of value if they promote the infinite game Education is about a play community in which the game is less important than the community When measurement is more important than quality, we have stepped outside the infinite game International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 26
Car design and race Community of learners seeking understanding, and contributing to innovations for flourishing people and ecosystems. IGEE conference Multidisciplinar y degree Gigaclock School/ university rankings Staff achievements
We need myths, metaphors and stories to live by Economic growth Religion Mother Nature And now THE INFINITE GAME International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 28
Which pill do you choose? If you chose the red pill, what will you do to live in awareness of the games you are playing? International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 29
Further reading Finite and Infinite Games James Carse Community: The Structure of Belonging Peter Block The Well Played Game Bernard de Koven International Greening Education Event 2013 Karlsruhe - Germany 30