JAKARTA - Monopoly is one of the most popular board games in the world. But, did you know that the Monopoly philosophy is based on an ideological allusion to capitalism? In a world where money is everything, justice is biased. We see it, many people are aware of this reality through the Rachel Vennya case, where justice is so subjective.
Rachel Vennya has been found guilty of a COVID-19 quarantine violation. Rachel, in the trial process also admitted to giving bribes. But the judge decided not to detain Rachel with the consideration of the polite celebrity. The judge's decision has become a public spotlight. Several discussions arose, including those linking the case to the game of Monopoly.
"The reason Rachel Vennya is not in prison," wrote the Twitter account @digidegu in an image uploaded by VOI, Monday, December 11. Only five words, which we realize are very strong when we look at the philosophy of the game Monopoly.
The image features 'Prison Free Cards' in the game Monopoly. On the card it says: Free from prison. This card is saved. Used when necessary or can be sold.
In Monopoly, Jail Free Cards are an important part of the game, apart from General Fund Cards. The Prison Free Card is also the strongest critique of the philosophy embedded in the Monopoly game.
Yes. Monopoly game is actually a critique of the system of capitalism that is rolling in the world. In the game Monopoly we can be imprisoned for a number of things: a pawn stops in a dungeon-era box, rolls a triple dice, gets an order from a General Fund Card or an Chance Card.
Well, with the Prison Free Card we can get out of jail. The card can also be sold at a certain price stated on the card body. A critique of the transactional legal system that applies in the midst of capitalism.
Critical Philosophy in Monopoly permainanwhy rachel vennya isn't in jail: pic.twitter.com/1ORNRTCMnq
— ija (@digidegu) December 11, 2021
Elizabeth Magie is the inventor and brain who designed the game Monopoly. The inspiration for this game came after he read Henry George's classic book Progress and Poverty (1879). The book was given by his father, James Magie, who is an antitrust politician.
One page of the book reads: Everyone has the same right to use land as they have the right to breathe air. This is a right that accompanies the fact of their own existence.
George's book Progress and Poverty was written after he toured America in the 1870s. On that journey George discovers how poverty eats away at many in the midst of growing wealth for others. One thing that George believes to be the cause is injustice in land ownership.
With the determination to transmit the values that 'ordered' James through George's book, Elizabeth Magie created the concept of the game Monopoly which she called the 'game of landlords' in 1904. In the same year the game was patented. Through this game, Elizabeth Magie also introduced the concept of the board as a game circuit, which at that time was relatively new.
According to the BBC, the landlord's game circuit is lined with boards, roads and 'for sale' signs. Innovation is the key to this game, which relies on two sets of rules that he devised: prosperity and victory.
Under the wealth rule set, players will benefit every time someone buys a new property. This set of rules was designed to reflect George's policy of applying a value tax. And the set of winning rules makes this game a chance to be won by all the players.
The game then developed. The rules haven't changed much. But the values and mindset of the players are the opposite. The Monopoly game, which was originally intended to educate players to be fair in land ownership through a tax system and so on, actually encourages players to be more greedy in their game practices.
From the beginning, everyone could win, recently the Monopoly game brought those who were the most greedy to buy property and collect money from property rentals -- from those who were not lucky -- as winners. Whoever bankrupt another player will be the sole winner.
However, Monopoly shows us that different approaches to property ownership can have different social consequences. Elizabeth Magie finds this double rule still educational. Players can at least experience the land grabbing system practices that occur in many parts of America.
"The game may also be called the 'Game of Life' because it contains all the elements of success and failure in the real world. And the object is the same as that shown in the human race in general, namely the accumulation of wealth."
Who is Elizabeth Magie and how do values shift in Monopoly?The games that Elizabeth introduced were immediately popular among left-wing intellectuals, including those at the Wharton School, Harvard, Columbia, and even among the Quaker community. Some of them modify the game by adding street signs from Atlantic City in it.
One of the people from the Quaker community who modified this game was an unemployed man named Charles Darrow. He later sold the modified version as his own work to the game company, Parker Brothers. Parker Brothers bought the game's patent rights and relaunched the simple board game as Monopoly.
In Monopoly, Elizabeth Magie's values are fading. The game only has one stipulation, that the winner is whoever manages to outperform others through the monopolistic practice of the property market, land ownership, and control of capital or funds.
Monopoly instead encourages today's players to celebrate values opposite to those instilled by Elizabeth Magie. Instead of fighting against the value of capitalism, Monopoly encourages its players to oppress each other on the board by utilizing the capital they have.
Born in 1866, Elizabeth Magie was a person who consistently defied the norms and politics of her time. Almost in every way. Elizabeth Magie didn't even get married until she was in her 40s. He felt independent and proud of it. Elizabeth Magie is also smart. Her activism is always spotlight-oriented.
She once advertised in the newspapers and offered herself as an American slave girl for sale to the highest bidder. Elizabeth Magie's message is to underscore the position of women in society which is often placed under the feet of men.
"We are not machines ... Girls have thoughts, desires, hopes and ambitions," Elizabeth Magie said.
Apart from opposing gender politics, Elizabeth Magie has also long concentrated on issues of property ownership and land tenure in the capitalist system. Kate Raworth, author of Donut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist, wrote for the BBC her views on how important the game of Monopoly is to show the evils of capitalism.
"Monopoly is a real picture of life in the era of capitalism. This game is made with various values and an educational set of rules, which ironically now exemplifies the opposite value (from the original purpose), namely chasing wealth and crushing your opponents if You want to reach the top."
*Read other information about WORLD HISTORY or read other interesting writings from Yudhistira Mahabharata
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