"How Libertarian Is Your Video Game?" Rubric & Audio Companion
Summary:
This product is a practical, engaging rubric and audio guide that empowers users, especially teens and young adults, to analyze video games through the lens of freedom and fairness. It’s ideal for educational settings, gaming communities, and anyone interested in the intersection of philosophy and popular culture.
This is based on this article:
The Libertarian Laboratory: What Grand Theft Auto Proves About Nozick’s Minimal State
Age Groups & Audience Suitability:
- 12–14 (Early Teen) May need adult/teacher guidance for philosophical terms
- 15–18 (High School) Well-suited for high schoolers, especially those interested in gaming or social studies
- 18–25 (College/Young Adult) Excellent. Ideal audience: content matches college-level philosophy and media studies
- 25+ (Adult Learners) Accessible to adults with an interest in gaming, pop culture, or philosophy
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Best for:
- High school and college students
- Young adults interested in gaming, philosophy, or cultural criticism
- Educators seeking an engaging, contemporary framework for essay assignments or class discussions
Where This Product Is Handy
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Classrooms:
- Media studies, philosophy, or social studies teachers can use it as a scaffolded essay assignment or discussion activity.
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Game Clubs & Camps:
- Perfect for youth groups or gaming clubs to spark debates about fairness, freedom, and justice in virtual worlds.
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Homeschooling:
- Offers a ready-made, critical thinking exercise for home educators.
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Self-Study:
- Individuals can use it for personal reflection, journaling, or as a unique way to combine their love of games with philosophy.
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Online Courses & Workshops:
- Can be integrated into digital learning modules on rhetoric, ethics, or game design.
Key Features
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Affordable & Accessible:
At $5, it’s a low-cost, high-value resource that makes abstract philosophy tangible and fun. -
Visually Engaging:
Designed with bold headings, icons, and fillable fields for easy use and appeal to younger audiences. -
Bridges Theory & Practice:
Connects classic political philosophy with everyday gaming experiences, encouraging critical engagement and self-reflection. -
Flexible Use:
Suitable for solo study, group work, or as a teaching tool.
What’s included is a complete toolkit: a downloadable PDF rubric that lets you score any open-world or choice-driven video game on a spectrum from Rawlsian fairness to Nozickian freedom, covering five key categories from anarchy to moral consequences. You’ll also get the audio guide in .wav explaining how to use the rubric and the core ideas behind it, a simple one-page set of instructions with a worked example like Grand Theft Auto V or Minecraft, and an essay prompt with a reflection template to help you turn your analysis into a clear, thoughtful piece of writing or discussion.