Good toys
Whether a toy is a good toy or a bad toy is always dependent on the person-at-play. What is required of a toy is therefore determined individually. It follows that an understanding of the extent to which a given toy has qualitative play value is therefore relative!
Based on the previous chapters of this book, what follows is the author’s most abbreviated and precise summary of the general and pivotal aesthetic theoretical and play requirements which can be used to identify a “good” toy.
Aesthetic theoretical requirements:
- A good toy is universal.
- A good toy has empirical relevance through its referring to practical examples.
- A good toy must facilitate deductive use in order to support the intentional aspects of the process of detection, assimilation and creation.
- A good toy must be defined inductively on the strength of the truthof the object’s (for Man, universal) existence.
- The definition must be applied abductively with reference to the general utility and serviceability of the object.
General play requirements:
- A good implement or a good toy always appeals to the person-at-play’s interest and curiosity.
- A good toy encourages and activates new and alternative ways of playing and interaction with other people - and may favourably end up being part of the person-at-play.