The Playing Mind: Understanding Play as a Mental State

Explore a thought-provoking lecture examining the fundamental nature of play and its manifestation as a distinct mental state. Delve into a novel theoretical framework that challenges traditional approaches to understanding play, which have historically focused on formal characteristics and social-developmental functions. Learn how this new perspective, grounded in philosopher Tamar Gendler's research on alief and belief, offers potential insights into connecting seemingly disparate forms of play - from children's pretend games to adult sports and video games. Presented by Federico Alvarez Igarzábal, a distinguished researcher at the Cologne Game Lab and incoming Professor for Media & Game Studies, this talk bridges cognitive science, philosophy of mind, and game studies to illuminate how play shapes our perception, emotions, and sense-making abilities. The presentation, hosted by CLEA at the Free University of Brussels, offers valuable insights for researchers, game designers, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the psychological dimensions of play and its universal role in human experience.