Joels Central Proposition

So you know where I'm coming from:

This research project is about the medium of video -games and people. Raph Koster (2005) argues in his book ‘The Theory of Fun’ that games are a powerful, but underutilized tool. Currently, most video-games are about violence and skills that would have best trained cavemen: aiming, timing, hunting, territory, projecting power etc. We need to learn more relevant skills: some of our instinctual behaviours are no longer relevant in contemporary culture and games should therefore evolve towards teaching us more relevant skills.

Kohlberg believes that society should try to achieve the highest stage of moral thought, as defined by his 6 stages of moral judgement. Most people obtain to at least the third stage, but through Kohlberg’s methods of discussion they are able to progress further up the stages. Kohlberg’s methods are heavily based on interactive discussion. Noted game designer Chris Crawford argues, in his ‘dragon speech’ (1997), that games have the power of efficient and effective communication. They are able to provide an interactive framework for ‘discussion’, while working on a mass-producible medium.

This research project will therefore merge Kohlberg’s ideals, using his 6 stages as a tangible device, with games for the purpose of raising the individuals’ moral thought ability.