Roger Caillois

Roger Caillois was a French intellectual known for his work in sociology, anthropology, and literary criticism. He explored the nature of play and games, categorizing them into different types based on elements like competition, chance, and strategy. Caillois distinguished between “paidia” (spontaneous, unstructured play) and “ludus” (structured games with rules). His influential ideas helped shape the understanding of leisure activities in culture and society, highlighting how play reflects human behavior and social dynamics. Caillois also engaged with broader themes of human creativity and the cultural significance of games and play across different societies.