Ergo the game (2009)

[Talismanic (Mark)]

Back in the proverbial day, when I was a more sprightly and slimmer fellow, I took Class Philo 11 during one summer. It was a very interesting class filled with concepts like "language games" and phrases such as "ad absurdium", along with all of this the professor (a diminutive fellow who was a Buddhist) taught us the joys of symbolic logic. Fast forward to the future and lo and behold, the company that brought us BattleTech Classic, Catalyst Games brings us Ergo! A game of symbolic logic where the aim is to prove your variable (A,B,C, or D) while hopefully blocking others (by proving they don't exist).

And surely enough, this game has all the elements necessary to teach, apart from the variables are the OPERATORS: "And" (.); "Or" (V); & "Then" (=>), and also the negation "Not" (~) as well as PARENTHESES, and the ERGO card.

However, in order not to be purely "edutainment" (*cough *cough which it actually is), there are other cards that are not strictly in the realm of symbolic logic. Wild cards are included that act as any of the variables and one which acts as any of the operators, there is also a Tabula Rasa Card which erases variables and operators, as well as a Revolution Card which switches symbols, and finally, the gamey cards: "fallacy" (A player upon who this is played cannot play cards into the proof for 3 turns) and "justification" (Removes a fallacy played on you). 

The rules are simple:

1) Pick a variable. (A, B, C or D)   
2) Start with a Hand of 5 Cards
3) During your turn: Draw 2 Cards, Play up to Two Cards adding to the Proof, Discard down to 5 Cards if you did not play 2 cards.
4) When playing cards (adding to the proof) you must add to one of the four lines (Premises) that make up the Proof.

Note: proof = the area where the cards are played, maximum four premises. premise = lines of said symbolic arguments\logic

5) When all variables (A, B, C, & D) are in the proof and there are no paradoxes in the proof, a player can play ERGO and then you consult the rules of symbolic logic (to make sure there are no paradoxes and which variables are proven):

?
________________
PROFIT! The player's with variables that are proven get 1 point for every card played in the proof. First to 50 points wins.

This is the NERDIEST game I have ever encountered. I am tempted not to call it a game but a thinly veiled attempt at teaching! Ha ha ha. But it is actually fun, in controlled doses. (Like Gamma Radiation, or BDSM, or FITS, or Certain People)

The really interesting or irritating thing is, the game has a deceptively SHORT rule page (It is the one page, with some rules of logic on the back). Hence, in actuality you should probably read and download this first to really play it:

http://www.fecundity.com/logic/

With that said, this game,  if you play it is bound to lead to arguments on how the operators and premises function or play out in the game. In any case, the game is interesting (and educational!) so give it a try and remember that while: If "A then B is true"; "Not B then Not A" follows; but "Not A then Not B" is NOT necessarily true.   

[Talismanic (Mark)]

Thanks to Nicco for bringing the geek on and having us play this game! (*cough edutainment)

 

[Nychuus]

You're most welcome.


I do wish they had the rules longer and more detailed, like EXACTLY how the OR, AND, THEN operators worked EXACTLY.

Its one thing to argue the definition of democracy, its another thing to argue the definition of "OR" in the context of the game.


@Mark:
When all variables (A, B, C, & D) are in the proof and there are no paradoxes in the proof, you can play the ERGO card and consult the symbolic logic to determine which variable is proven. Those variables score points equal to the number of cards in the proof. First player who gets to 50 points wins.

proof = the area where the cards are played, maximum four premises
premise = lines of said symbolic arguments\logic


I doubly agree that it is a good and fun educational "game" in controlled doses.

[Talismanic (Mark)]

You're most welcome.


I do wish they had the rules longer and more detailed, like EXACTLY how the OR, AND, THEN operators worked EXACTLY.

Its one thing to argue the definition of democracy, its another thing to argue the definition of "OR" in the context of the game.


@Mark:
When all variables (A, B, C, & D) are in the proof and there are no paradoxes in the proof, you can play the ERGO card and consult the symbolic logic to determine which variable is proven. Those variables score points equal to the number of cards in the proof. First player who gets to 50 points wins.

proof = the area where the cards are played, maximum four premises
premise = lines of said symbolic arguments\logic


I doubly agree that it is a good and fun educational "game" in controlled doses.

Duly noted, post modified. 

[Talismanic (Mark)]

If anyone is interested, the latest Rules are available here:

http://catalystgamelabs.com/pdfs/Ergo_Rules_LO.pdf

[Talismanic (Mark)]

Based on the discussions I'm seeing on boardgamegeek with the game designers, the expression "A or B" on its own DOES NOT prove the existence of either "A or B" without more to the proof. Thus for "A or B" to be proven then either of the variables has to be explicitly proven by the other premises. Thus the operator "Or" cannot be treated as "And" in case the other premises do not supply a determination. Hence:

A or B
C or D

Ergo: No one scores.

Ergo is based on symbolic logic, so the use of "Or" as "And" is a house rule and not within the original design/rules of the game.

[Talismanic (Mark)]

Interestingly enough there is another game called Ergo that was produced in the 1970's:



However, it is an abstract pattern building game where you attempt to get 5 of your pieces in an uninterrupted vertical, horizontal or diagonal line anywhere on the playboard.

Note the drunken dude with the Amphora of the good stuff lying sodden in the left corner of the box cover art. Ha ha ha. He lost to the little boy of color and had to take a big swig. Ancient drinking games sure are kewl.