Teaching Philosophy to Publish Pollock Article on Pedagogical Game

Teaching Philosophy will publish “Evaluating the State of Nature through Gameplay” by Ryan Pollock, a fifth year graduate student in the department of philosophy.

According to Pollock, “The activity provides an excellent impetus for discussing both whether civil society could actually arise from the state of nature, and whether the structure of that civil society is fair.”

The article details a classroom game that Pollock has developed and used in numerous classes that is meant to provide an interactive illustration of the “state of nature.”

Gameplay involves each student adopting a different character and attempting to gain as many resources as possible, whether through force or negotiation.

The game brings out important comparisons between ancient and modern political thinkers. The game has met with overwhelming positive response from students and furthers Pollock’s attempt to create a student-centered classroom.