Throughout history, philosophers and gamers have gotten a bad rap. Because they aren’t pursuing business activities or “saving lives” like physicians, philosophers are accused of having their heads in the clouds and gamers of simply mashing buttons. But this criticism of philosophy and gaming is rooted in a shallow conception of value, as both activities have the resources to contribute to rich and meaningful lives.

Nicholas Baima is an associate professor at the Florida Atlantic University Honors College, specializing in ancient philosophy and ethics. He is the author of Plato’s Pragmatism and Why It’s OK to be a Gamer and has published in numerous journals, such as Ancient Philosophy, Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, Journal of the History of Philosophy, Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, and Phronesis.

March 4, 2024