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Hidden power of collectors, Plato, and Monopoly
Play in the intersection of philosophy, business, and economy
Hey there!
In this week's issue, we'll cover the following:
🦹🏻♀️ Discover one of the hidden superpowers of collectors
🤔 What Plato has to say about play
♟ The origin story of the board gameMonopoly
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Let's get to it!
Play Profile: The Collector
Whatever play personality you can relate to, hidden talents are buried in the activities you find enjoyable. For the next few issues, we'll focus on one personality and how your superpowers can be used to add some glimmer to your work or life.
If you're a collector, chances are you enjoy organizing what you amassed in a way that makes sense, even just for you. Curation is an innate skill of yours because unless you're a billionaire or have a huge house, you need to make sure your collection doesn't take over your space or spend too much time or money.
In a way, you're creating your museum, where the theme is your taste and identity. That takes a lot of thought and careful documentation of what you have. I have a friend who collected different types of crystals and she kept a spreadsheet of what she has, their types, where she bought it, and even the intentions of each.
A collection is created when it's arranged, displayed, documented, and shared. If you enjoy doing these, you can use this passion and focus in other things like solving a problem at work or helping someone find order or similarities in an otherwise pile of mess.
You have a special eye for detail that can see differently and bring out stories behind everyday objects.
Philosophy and Play
Even Plato urged to treat play as serious business. According to a journal article by Gavin Ardley, here are Plato's perspectives on play:
Play as a Central Concept: Plato's philosophy often incorporates the notion of play, emphasizing its importance in the development of human understanding and wisdom.
Play and Education: In "The Republic," Plato advocates for the integration of play in education, arguing that it helps cultivate a love for learning and intellectual curiosity in children.
Dialectic as Play: Plato likens the process of dialectic, or philosophical dialogue, to a form of intellectual play that allows individuals to explore ideas, question assumptions, and arrive at deeper truths.
The Role of Myth and Allegory: Plato uses myths and allegories, such as the Allegory of the Cave, as playful narrative devices to convey philosophical concepts in an engaging and accessible manner.
Play and the Ideal State: The philosopher-kings in Plato's ideal state are depicted as individuals who understand the value of play and use it to govern wisely, balancing seriousness with lightheartedness.
Leisure and the Good Life: Plato views leisure, a form of play, as essential to achieving the good life, allowing individuals to engage in reflection, creativity, and the pursuit of knowledge.
Critique of Excessive Seriousness: Plato critiques those who take life too seriously, suggesting that a playful attitude can lead to greater happiness and a more profound understanding of existence.
Play and the Cosmos: The concept of play extends to Plato's metaphysical views, where the cosmos is seen as a playful creation of a divine craftsman, reflecting harmony and order.
Influence on Later Philosophical Thought: Plato's integration of play into his philosophy has influenced subsequent thinkers, highlighting its enduring significance in the Western philosophical tradition.
Business of Play
I'm sure you've played a round of Monopoly once or twice in your lifetime. Finishing it is another story though! I remember watching my parents and their siblings play it until the wee hours of the morning and I still am amazed at how popular this game is.
In Monopoly, the main objective is to become the richest all of the players. The only way you can do it is to add buildings to your properties so you can bankrupt other players. It's a bleak lesson disguised as a fun family game!
Turns out, the original game where it came from had another set of game rules where everyone will get rewarded when wealth is created. This wasn't mentioned on the official website, along with the woman who invented it: Lizzie Magie.
Until next week!
Bituin 💫