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Sunday, February 23, 2003
Alipio: The power of game theory
By Fr. Jose Alipio
CULTURAL anthropologists and developmental psychologists were the first to recognize the central role that games play in human affairs. Psychologists like Erik Erikson realized that the play of children was serious work. Children use play as a way of trying out different grown-up roles in life. Child's play is also the way children learn how to live in a rule-governed universe.
Finally, the play of children schools them in the virtues of teamwork, courage, self-sacrifice as well as winning and losing. Cultural anthropologists see these same uses of play from the point of view of society. A society embodies its social values and social skills in rituals, which are a form of grown-up play.
Participating in the rituals of a society requires the same shift of mind and dedication of efforts as the games that children play.
Against this background, we may approach this passage from Luke's gospel with a deeper appreciation of the issues at stake. Jesus drew attention to a game that children played in the city squares that was called "weddings and funerals." What struck him about this game was that the children were not playing by rules. They would not dance when it was time to play weddings or wail when it was time to play funerals. Such childish obstinate behavior offered a perfect picture of a spiritual rebellion that refuses to play by the rules. Persons who flaunt the rules ruin the game for everyone. You can't take liberties for yourself without trampling on the freedom of others. A stable and sensible society requires everyone to play his or her part within the rules of the game. |
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