The third Philosophy at Play conference was held at University of Gloucestershire, UK on 9th and 10th June 2015. Keynote speakers were

Professor Henning Eichberg, University of Southern Denmark, speaking on Play and Alienation
Stuart Lester, University of Gloucestershire, whose talk was entitled Bringing Play to Life and Life to Play: A vitalist line of enquiry

Dr Wendy Russell and Dr Malcolm MacLean, University of Gloucestershire, who introduced the second book due for publication in the autumn, with a talk entitled Slipper Rules and Porous Limits: Freedom, boundaries and the problem of subjectivity. For more information on the book, click here.

20 papers were presented by philosophers, play scholars and specialists, artists and designers from 14 different countries across a wide range of topics. Some considered the work of specific philosophers (European, Chinese, Indian); others looked at play and art (aesthetics); others at being and becoming (ontology) or at other philosophical issues of metaphysics and ethics. Some looked specifically at children’s play (and adults’ engagement with this); others at topics such as play and the internet, play and resistance, and the history of play. A real treat!

There was a friendly and collegiate atmosphere to the conference, which included a dinner at Gloucester’s Blackfriars Priory where we were treated to singing performances from delegate/presenter Erin Heisel and also the Mayor of Gloucester and his wife.

If you are interested in this conference and the prospect for further projects to come from it, please visit the Philosophy at Play Facebook page.