infinite-game
The idea that life and culture are best understood as an infinite game where the goal is to continue playing and improving rather than to win or finish.
2 chapters across 2 books
Clock of the Long Now: Time and Responsibility (1999)Stewart Brand
Chapter 25, "The Infinite Game," explores the philosophical framework of infinite versus finite games as introduced by James P. Carse, emphasizing the importance of long-term thinking and responsibility. It situates the concept within the broader context of cultural continuity, technological preservation, and the challenge of sustaining civilization through deep time. The chapter also includes a recommended bibliography that reflects the interdisciplinary influences informing the Long Now project, highlighting works on history, cooperation, technology, and futurism.
Finite and Infinite Games (1986)James P. Carse
This chapter distinguishes between finite and infinite games, defining finite games as those played to win with agreed-upon temporal, spatial, and numerical boundaries, and infinite games as those played to continue play indefinitely without fixed boundaries. It emphasizes that finite games require fixed rules and definitive endings, while infinite games require evolving rules to sustain ongoing participation. The chapter also explores the nature of freedom in play, highlighting that all players must play freely and that infinite players incorporate limits into the game to preserve its continuity.