- The Philosophical Athlete: Meanings of Sport

Catalog description

This course explores the philosophical ideas related to the meanings, functions, values, and purposes ascribed to sport and athletic competition. We will study foundational ethical theory and apply it to matters in sport like competition, performance enhancing drugs, gender equity, capitalism, politics, and notions of violence. Students in this course will assess how sport is connected to social differences and structures, and notions of self in national and global contexts. We will also focus on the realities of players, coaches, administrators, and fans and the rationales they give regarding their relationship to sport. Students will be encouraged to assess how sport functions in their personal lives and consider how course discussions and materials fit into contemporary conversations. Overall, this class explores the many meanings humans give to sport and athletic competitions.