The Play Ethic explores the real meaning of play and shows how a more playful society would revolutionize and liberate our daily lives. Using wide and varied sources from the Enlightenment to Eminem, Socrates to Chaos theory, Kierkegaard to Karaoke, this book shows how play is fundamental to both society and to the individual, and how the work ethic that has dominated the The Play Ethic explores the real meaning of play and shows how a more playful society would revolutionize and liberate our daily lives. Using wide and varied sources from the Enlightenment to Eminem, Socrates to Chaos theory, Kierkegaard to Karaoke, this book shows how play is fundamental to both society and to the individual, and how the work ethic that has dominated the last three centuries is ill-equipped to deal with the modern world.