The Infinite Game as a Metaphor for
Education for Sustainability
Niki Harre│University of Auckland
Finite and Infinite Games
James Carse
The infinite game
Finite games
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The purpose is to continue the
game
Invites others in
Any single player is not
needed and cannot finish the
game
Looks to the future and does
not assume the past will
reoccur
The rules must change over
time or the game will cease
Provokes creativity
•
•
•
•
•
The purpose is to win the
game
Include only select people
Each player is needed and
must always be alert, to relax
is dangerous
Players try to replicate the
winning strategies of the past
and assume the past reoccurs
The rules must not change for
the duration of the game
Provoke replication
International Greening Education Event 2013 | Karlsruhe - Germany
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Infinite Game
Finite Game
Infinite Game
Finite Game
Finite
Game
Finite
Game
Finite
Game
Finite
Game
Finite
Game
Finite
Game
Finite and Infinite Games
The infinite game
Finite games
International Greening Education Event 2013 | Karlsruhe - Germany
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Finite and Infinite Games
James Carse
The infinite game
Finite games
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The purpose is to continue the
game
Invites others in
Any single player is not
needed and cannot finish the
game
Looks to the future and does
not assume the past will
reoccur
The rules must change over
time or the game will cease
Provokes creativity
•
•
•
•
•
The purpose is to win the
game
Include only select people
Each player is needed and
must always be alert, to relax
is dangerous
Players try to replicate the
winning strategies of the past
and assume the past reoccurs
The rules must not change for
the duration of the game
Provoke replication
International Greening Education Event 2013 | Karlsruhe - Germany
7
Finite and Infinite Games
James Carse
The infinite game
Finite games
•
•
•
Can be elicited by rituals,
places, settings, people and
mind-sets
The currency of the infinite
game is that which is of infinite
value
•
Can be elicited by rituals,
places, settings, people and
mind-sets
The currency of the finite game
is that which is of finite value
International Greening Education Event 2013 | Karlsruhe - Germany
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That which is of infinite value
Of value for its own sake
That which makes the world truly alive
In any dimension – an emotion, relationship, part
of the natural world, a quality, an object
Please write down three things of infinite value.
You will share two of these with the group.
International Greening Education Event 2013 | Karlsruhe - Germany
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Free Space
(e.g. beach,
forest
The Sun
Sunlight
Sun
Happiness
Happiness
er Happiness
t
h
g
e
Lau
Hop
Elatio
n
Equality
n
Huma
ity
Moral
Life
Freedom
Freedom
Freedom
Love
Love
Love
Flowers
l
Peop e
Belonging
e
Ho
om
Fami y
l
Family
Family
communication
Running
and
Occeans
Seas
Waterfalls
Vegetat n
io
r
e
t
Wa
Food
s
hin
p
l
o
D
Animals
Animals
Car
m
Altruis
Colour
Music
Music
Music
Trut
h
Lov
e
Empathy
Ambition
God
Ocean
A sense of
humour
Communication
Nature
Nature
Knowledg
e
Support
Nature
Laught
er
A positive
outlook
Laught r
e
ntal
Meen
wellbe
being
Family
Family yFamilyily
Famil y Fam ily
Famil y Fam mily
Famil y Fa
il
ily
Parents
Fam
Family Fam
Music
Music
Music
Weekends
Rugby
Baske b
t allll
Friends
Friends
car
g
Knowled
e and
love
Friends
Friendship
Friendshipss
Hugs
Family
ily
Fam
m
a
F ily
ily
Fam
m
a
F ily
Community
Smiles
Love
Love
communication
communication
communication
Laugh
ing
Laughter
Laughter
Excitement
Respect
Experie ce
n
Happiness
Happiness
Happiness
Happiness
Humour
Faith
Compassion
Compassisioon
sio
Trees
Environment
Environment
God
Ho p e
Selflessness
Nature: food,
water, air
Nature, specifically
trees
Music
Music
Music
Music
tric
Elecct
guitar
Pride
r
Wateter
Wa ter
Wa
Maths
Time
Time
Ed
ducation
Transport
ks
Boo
Technology
Technology
Fooodod
F ood
F
Sport
Spo t
Spro t
r
Love
Love
Love
Love
Love
Happi
Hnaep
pss n
niess
Happip
ness
Happ
ness
Happy
Hapip
iness
My
cat
Serenity
hing
Laug
hing
g
u
a
L
ng
/joki
Peace
up
Stand
comedy
Exercise
Rock
g
climbin
Honour
Positivity
Music
M
Muussicic
Music
Freedom
ge
Knowled
Fruits
Sunshine
Cooking
ion
a
t
c
i
un
m
tion
o
m
CCommunica
ries
Sto
Walk
Health
Hunger
er
ding
n
ta ing
s
r
n
e
nd lear
U or
on
attiio
EEdduucca
ca ion
r
Colou
Smile
Sleeping
Professions
Faith
Water
Water
Wate
r
Toilet
paper
Consciousness
Resources
Resources
ds
u
Ocean
o
e
l
h
T
C
Nature
Naature
Air
Car
e
Hom
Home country
Wat
er
Life
Algorith
m
net
r
e
t
n
I
Commu ic
n at n
Communic io
ation
Commu ic
n ation
led
d ge
Knowle
e
Knowledg
Compassion
Leadership
management
government
Good morals
Community
Spirit
Family
Family
Choice
inessss
p
p
a
p
H
ccess
e
u
h
n
i
S
t
p
i
p
a
F
Ha piness
Imagination
Happ
H
p
e
o
Potential
and Pas
s
Art
Love
i
o
n
Determin
tivit
Love
a
e
r
ation
P
C
assio
Regret
Love
n
y
Regret
Strength
Music
Anger
Emotions
Dream
ence
i
t
Pa
Freedom
Freedom
Free
do
thougm of
ht
What did you notice about that which is
of infinite value?
International Greening Education Event 2013 | Karlsruhe - Germany
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Please make a paper dart
• Any style!
International Greening Education Event 2013 | Karlsruhe - Germany
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The object of this game, is to keep the
game in play
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That which is of finite value
Of value because of what it signifies or enables
Of value because a group of people deem it so
In any dimension – an emotion, relationship, part
of the natural world, a quality, an object
Please write down three things of finite value.
You will share two of these with the group.
International Greening Education Event 2013 | Karlsruhe - Germany
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Unive
rsity
degr e
e
Youthf
ul
looks
Antiques
Profit
tion
Posi
Status
Status
d
Diamon s
Sports
Car
Lamborghini
Houses
Hous ng
i
Mortgage
eologs
d
I
l
a
c
i
Polit
“R”
+
”
L
“
Liberal
Power
Rules
ey $
$ M on
Wo
orkk
Winning
Wea
l th
Work
Mone
y
Money
Food
Marriage
rhood
e
h
t
o
M
Money
Money
Marath n
o s
Conversation
Authority
Quali
ficati
ons
E = mc2
Title
PhD
shi
Leader p
Posi
tion
Being an
expert
Profession
High paying job
Success
History
Cows
Plastic
Money
Status
ise)
(FB/otherw
Prestigious
job
Land
ownership
Land
es
Resourc
Planet
Earth
ney
Mo
Money
Money
ey
Mon
ey
Mon
Winning
An s
Ferrar
ica’
r
e
i
m
m acht
A
p Y
ouse
u
h
C
g
Space
A bi
Travel
Diamonds
Gold
Coal
Gaia
Money
Mother
A rare
stamp
Patriotism
Maakkee up
city
Recipro
Honesty
s
uter
Compu
Facebook
TV
k
Media
Faceboo
iPhones
ons Degrees/j
Job
title
tio
a
c
b
i
o
f
i
l
J
o
a
b
s
Qu
g
a
r
e
e
Job Job
Tiitle/P
Status
e
High pay
Prestige Status
atus
High st
W
Car Car
Mo
oney
$
Money Mone
y
Money
Money
$
AU $
ey Money
ealth Mon
Currency
Cars
Winning a race
e
xpensiv
E
tition
e
r
p
Status
a
c
m
o
&
C
house
symbols
House
y
a
d
i
l
o
A h
Material
possessions
Location of
Shoes
Consume
Residence
Resource
Coal
s
n
r goods
Fashio
s
e
o
h
S
te
ources
l
s
ater
o
e
a
c
R
o
s
l
h
h
l
w
o
e
d
r
s
C
Clothes
F
Barbie
Alcohol / Drugs
Plastic
Gold
Walls
Coal
Economy
Oil
Sex
/
r
e
Fear
Pow
l
Laws / rules
Contro
Brompto
n
Bike
Kayak
Bicycle
What did you notice about that which is
of finite value?
International Greening Education Event 2013 | Karlsruhe - Germany
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The object of this game is to win
Rules
• The winner is the person with the most darts
• There can be only one winner
• You must not grab a dart from another person
• You must not make new darts
International Greening Education Event 2013 | Karlsruhe - Germany
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The object of this game is to win
Rules
• The winner is the team with the most darts
• There can be a team of three winners
• You must not grab a dart from another person
• You must not make new darts
International Greening Education Event 2013 | Karlsruhe - Germany
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What did you notice about the
differences between the three dart
games?
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Implications for Education for
Sustainability
Do not expect students to behave as you hope, but
hope they behave as you do not expect
Goals and programmes are of value if they
promote the infinite game
Education is about a play community in which the
game is less important than the community
When measurement is more important than
quality, we have stepped outside the infinite
game
International Greening Education Event 2013 | Karlsruhe - Germany
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Car design
and race
Multidisciplinar
y degree
School/
university
rankings
Community of learners seeking
understanding, and contributing to
innovations for flourishing people
and ecosystems.
IGEE
conference
Gigaclock
Staff
achievements
We need myths, metaphors and stories
to live by
• Economic growth
• Religion
• Mother Nature
And now – THE INFINITE GAME
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Which pill do you choose? If you chose the red
pill, what will you do to live in awareness of the
games you are playing?
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Further reading
Finite and Infinite Games – James Carse
Community: The Structure of Belonging – Peter
Block
The Well Played Game – Bernard de Koven
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