Play as Symbol of the World

Contents

Translators’ Introduction

Oasis of Happiness: Thoughts toward an Ontology of Play {1957}

Play as Symbol of the World {1960}

Chapter One: Play as a Philosophical Problem

1. Play as a Possible and Worthy Topic for Philosophy

2. The World-Significance of Human Play

3. Methodological Considerations

4. The Position of the Human Being in the Centauresque Metaphysics of the West

5. The World as Play? An Approach in the Appearance of the Playworld

Chapter Two: The Metaphysical Interpretation of Play

6. The Non-Actual Character of Play

7. Play and the Other Regions of Human Life. Plato’s Blending of Being and Nothing

8. Plato’s Interpretation of Play by Way of the Mirror. His Critique of the Poets

9. The Lens of the Disenchanted. Critique of the Platonic Model of the Mirror

10. The Ontological Devaluation of Play at the Beginning of Metaphysics. The Problem of the Symbol

Chapter Three: The Interpretation of Play in Myth

11. Basic Features of Mythical Cult-Play

12. The Cultic Sense-Image and Its Veiled World-Reference. Association with Daemons

13. Cosmic Status of the Symbolism of Play—Ancient Belief in Daemons. The Enchantment of Masks

14. Sacred Technique, Cosmic Metaphor, Initiatory Enchantment. Transition to Cult-Play

15. Cult-Play as a Dissembling of the World-Relation. Play of the Gods and Play of the World

16. Play and Consecration—Cult-Play and Religion. The Play of the Gods Is Not Itself Cult-Play

17. Nature “Full of Gods” in Myth, Empty of Gods in Late Culture. Critique of Religion on the Model of “Self-Alienation.” The Question Concerning the Worldliness of Play Is neither Sacred nor Profane

Chapter Four: The Worldliness of Human Play

18. Polysemy of the Concept “Worldly”

19. The Worldliness of Play—In Contrast to the Metaphysical and Mythological Interpretation

20. Play as the Ecstase of the Human Being toward the World and as the Proof of the Shining Back of the World into the Being That Is Open to the World. The World as a Game without a Player

Play and Celebration {1975}

Additional Texts

Child’s Play {1959}

Play and Philosophy {1966}

The World-Significance of Play {1973}

Play and Cult {1972–1973?}

Fink’s Notes on Play

The Philosophical-Pedagogical Problem of Play, 1954

Sport Seminar on February 24, 1961

Play and Sport {1962}

Notes on “Play and Philosophy” {1966}

Notes on “The World-Significance of Play” {1973}

1. The Layout of the Volume and Description of the Texts

2. German Editors’ Afterword

3. Bibliography of Fink’s Works Available in English

4. Secondary Literature on Fink in English