Never Win the Infinite Game

By Al and David Blixt

In 1986 James Carse wrote a quirky little book called “Finite and Infinite Games”. It didn’t get the attention it deserves, as the concepts in his book provide a doorway to understanding the nature of several life activities, from sports and economics to politics.

The Basic Idea: Two Games

According to Carse, there are two kinds of games: finite and infinite. A finite game is played for the purpose of winning, an infinite game for the purpose of continuing to play.

Here are the rules of finite and infinite games:

1 · A finite game has a “playing field”, either physical or virtual, while infinite games have no boundaries.

2 · We cannot play a finite game alone. We must have an opponent to play against and usually teammates to play with.

3 · Only one person or team can win a finite game.

4 · Participation must be voluntary. If you must play a game, you cannot play a game.

5 · The rules of a finite game are the mutually-accepted terms that dertermine the winner. In an infinite game, the rules must change during the course of play to prevent anyone from winning, and to bring as many other persons as possible into play.

6 · Finite games can be played within an infinite game, but an infinite game cannot be played within a finite game.