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nomic

Nomic refers specifically to a game created by Peter Suber, and more informally to any meta-game inspired by the original. The game is creating a game; every game is different. In general, some focus more on the game aspect, where players win points in various ways, while others focus more on the meta-game aspect, where players win by manipulating the rules cleverly to create a contradiction.

The original Nomic is a framework for modeling a constitutional democracy, but many people consider this too restrictive for the general idea of playing meta-games. Minimalist Nomic has one rule:

The Rules may only be changed at the consent of all Players.

I believe this is part of the implicit definition of gaming, but not the complete implicit definition. What follows are my "minimal rules" for playing any game or meta-game. These are essentially immutable; changing them will at least result in paradoxes.

The Prime Axiom

Logic holds.

This is the only way we know of interpreting and applying rules objectively; it's built into our brains.

Rules Are Obeyed

All Players should obey the Rules during the Game.

In practice, all games allow -- at least informally -- for the possibility of players breaking the rules, and for the resolution of conflicting or paradoxical rules.

Natural Freedom

Anything not forbidden by the Rules is allowed.

All normal human activities are allowed during the game. Changing of the rules is implicitly allowed.

Voluntary Participation

All Players must consent to play the Game, and any Player may leave the Game at any time.

This is an obvious consequence of free will.

Now we need one meta-rule for creating new rules. Depending on the nature of the game, this may be modified in practice, although anyone is still free to leave the game if they don't like the rules.

The Social Contract

The Rules may only be changed at the consent of all Players.

This is the only mutable rule; it is necessary to provide some structure and make any meta-game actually playable. It also follows naturally from the requirement of consenting to play.