New ASU Course: Philosophy of Sport

I’m excited to announce a new online course being offered in Session A of Spring 2018: PHI 394: Philosophy of Sport.

Course Description:

An inquiry into philosophical ideas and issues in sport. Topics and readings will vary, but may include: the nature and definition of sport, the mind-body relationship in sport, the effects of technology on sport, epistemological issues in officiating, and the aesthetics of sport. Since our “Sports Ethics” course examines ethical issues in sport, this course will not deal with primarily ethical issues.

 Likely Topics:

• The Nature and Definition of Sport:
  • Can we, should we, define sport?
  • How does sport relate to: play, games, art?
• The Mind and Body in Sport:
  • What can we learn about the mind/body relationship from sport?
  • What does sport presupposed about mind and body?
  • What can we learn about epistemology and metaphysics through sport? Does sport presuppose particular theories about reality or knowledge?
• Technology and Officiating
  • How does technology change the ways we understand and engage in sport?
  • What role should technology have in officiating sports?
  • How do referees, umpires, etc., relate to the rules? What parallels are there to how we might understand law?

This course counts an upper-division elective credit. Talk with your advisor if you are interested in taking this course.