Fundamental study of the outstanding Dutch historian and culturologist J. Huizinga. Polemically contrasting the generally accepted definition of homo sapiens (reasonable person) with the definition of homo ludens (playing person), Huizinga describes the space of human activity and culture as an immense field of play, as a comprehensive way and a universal category of human existence. Homo ludens, a work long recognized as a classic, is distinguished by the scientific value of analyzing cultural phenomena, the breadth of coverage, the variety of factual material, extensive erudition, the brightness and persuasiveness of presentation, transparency and completeness of style.