The concept of the ludic self as fundamentally defining human beings can be expressed by the Latin phrase Homo ludens, “the human who plays” (compare Homo sapiens, the human being defined by its ability to think).
Ludic derives from Latin ludus, “play,” and is an adjective meaning “playful.” The term is used in philosophy to describe play as an act of self-definition; in literary studies, the term may apply to works written in the spirit of festival.
For more see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_Ludens
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