ИСТИНА

Images play an essential role in the composition of knowledge, activity and thinking; any professional occupation needs proper understanding of reality, which means the ability to construct its image. Simulation (or business) games are a valuable source of imagery assisting in the formation of conceptual language of social and economic knowledge in general and environmental economics in particular, and the potential of this source is far from being exhausted. It rests on the ludic culture, which is genetically related to the festive (carnival) folk culture of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Being a category of consciousness, images have profound influence on people’s opinions and attitudes and they may be useful when it is necessary to attempt to inculcate the sense of ecological responsibility in the students of economics. The Paper identifies the features of festive activities that constitute the deep foundations for the ludic culture and hence for the simulation game. It also discusses methods and principles of the games that can be used in an academic course on environmental economics.