The Philosophy of Role-Playing Games: Art, Inquiry, and Ritual

Author:   Albert R. Spencer
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
ISBN:  

9781666942774


Pages:   232
Publication Date:   08 January 2026
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   Manufactured on demand   Availability explained
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

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The Philosophy of Role-Playing Games: Art, Inquiry, and Ritual


Overview

The Philosophy of Role-Playing Games: Art, Inquiry, and Ritual explores how role-playing games (RPGs) serve as immersive laboratories for exploring identity, ideology, and self-discovery. By weaving together interdisciplinary insights from current RPG scholars with the theories of philosophical giants in fields such as pragmatism, aesthetics, epistemology, and metaphysics, Albert R. Spencer sheds light on the unique aesthetic of this medium and the transformative moments that generations of players have experienced. Combining thought-provoking analysis with practical case studies, Spencer explains how the agency of the players and the authority of the Gamemaster (GM) cooperatively interact with the rules and dice to simulate the immersive collaborative worlds that they build and explore. The Philosophy of Role-Playing Games appeals to GMs, players, designers, students, and scholars interested in how RPGs operate not only as entertainment but as transformative spaces for self-exploration, philosophical insights, spiritual experiences, and the fostering of close-knit communities

Full Product Details

Author:   Albert R. Spencer
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Imprint:   Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN:  

9781666942774


ISBN 10:   1666942774
Pages:   232
Publication Date:   08 January 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand   Availability explained
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements Preface Introduction Chapter 1. Role-Playing Games Chapter 2. Paracosms Chapter 3. Player-Characters Chapter 4. Gamemasters Chapter 5. Random Encounter Bibliography Index About the Author

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Author Information

Albert R. Spencer is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Portland State University, USA

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Latest Reading Guide

NOV RG 20252

 

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