No Laughing Matter: Playfulness and a Good Life

Abstract

In this dissertation, I adapt Aristotle and neo-Aristotelian philosophers to argue that (a) a virtue of playfulness exists, and (b) playfulness is necessary for achieving happiness. Playfulness helps people, uniquely and especially, to use their leisure time to rest, cultivate themselves, and engage their communities. This virtue of playfulness is so important for happiness that a person cannot live a good life without it. This argument offers a framework that can sort good from bad instances of play and playfulness by using the neo-Aristotelian values of virtue and happiness. To make my case, I use philosophy, textual evidence from Aristotle, and empirical evidence from biological and behavioral sciences. I hope that the dissertation serves to fill a gap in contemporary research, which neglects playfulness as a virtue.