ABSTRACT
Ancient Greek philosophers held radically different evaluations of play. For example, Heraclitus held play as the fundamentally right way of relating to the world. Whereas Plato thought play important but banned anything that encouraged immorality. By the time Aristotle began writing, he faced these radically different views. This chapter argues that Aristotle revealed something important when he called play a pharmakon, the Greek word for drug that can be translated as both “medicine” or “poison.” Aristotle reconciles the Heraclitean and Platonic views in play in his ethical and political writings. On the one hand, Aristotle argues that play should be protected for children, and their education should include physical training and art. Additionally, adults should use play to relax and experience pleasure. But on the other hand, Aristotle argues that children should never be permitted to see immoral comedies or poetry, and adults playing in immoral ways deserve degradation and beatings. Aristotle therefore establishes play as an important part of leisure, which is the entire reason behind any community’s work and organization. But he also makes it clear that intellectual, civic, and other virtues are much more important than play.
