Normativity, Game, Morality: The Act of “Homo Ludens”

Abstract

Activity of homo ludens is an object of different ways of normative regulation. The article analyzes the impact of play and moral normativity on homo ludens. Play normativity and game normativity have similar features, but they also have different sources of normativity as well as subjects and objects of normative regulation, the degrees of normativity of play and moral norms for homo ludens. The author tries to answer the questions: should homo ludens always follow the moral requirements in the play space? Can acts of homo ludens be regarded as moral? From this point of view, four cases are discussed. The acts can: 1) violate fair play, but comply with moral norms; 2) violate moral norms, but comply with fair play; 3) violate both fair play and moral norms; 4) threaten the existence of the world of play as a whole. In the latter case, the acts evaluation of the offender (spoil-sport) depends on the play evaluation. If the spoil-sport shatters a good play, his acts are not normative. Vice versa, if the spoil-sport destroys a bad play, he does the right thing. The author concludes that homo ludens in the context of play’s space and time of play is not only a responsible player, but also a responsible moral agent. If his play is morally irresponsible, it fails to fulfill its cultural function.