Philosophy of Sport: Key Questions

Philosophy of Sport: Key Questions provides an accessible and comprehensive guide to the philosophy of sport. Each chapter is framed by a question that explores the main issues, ideas and literature in the field ranging from questions about the nature and value of sport, the sporting body, aesthetics and ethics. Students are given the opportunity to consider significant debates in the philosophy of sport and each chapter is supplemented by independent study questions. Each section also contains short insightful interviews with eminent scholars in order to give a broader understanding of the history and development of the subject.

The main themes covered within this text include: the nature of sport; sport and the body; aesthetics and the aesthetic value of sport; a consideration of fair play, rules and the ethos of sport; the nature of competition; the application and effect of technology on sport and introductions to contemporary ethical issues such as doping, violence, disability, patriotism, elitism and sexual equality, as well as a broader reflection on the connection between sport and moral development.

Dr Emily Ryall is Senior Lecturer in the Philosophy of Sport at the University of Gloucestershire, UK. She is former Chair of the British Philosophy of Sport Association and on the editorial board of the Journal of the Philosophy of Sport. She has written articles on a range of issues in the philosophy of sport and is also the author of Critical Thinking for Sports Students.