New Course: PHI 194 Sports, Games, and the Meaning of Life

In Fall 2025, I am debuting a new course: Sports, Games, and the Meaning of Life.

Course Description:
Every human civilization and culture have something like sports and games. What does that tell us about the role that sports and games have in being human? Their role in civilization and society? Who are we when we play games? What do we know and how should we behave when we play? This course introduces you to the study of philosophy through an examination of sports and games and their role in creating a meaningful life.

Tentative Course Outline:
Part 1: What are Games? What is Philosophy?
Part 2: What is the Meaning of Life?
Part 3: What does playing games tell us about agency and the self.
Part 4: What does playing games tells us about ethics
Part 5: Is life just a game?

For current ASU offerings: https://catalog.apps.asu.edu/catalog/classes

This course can be used as an elective in ASU’s Sports, Cultures and Ethics certificate.

The course has ASU’s Humanities, Arts and Design (HUAD) General Studies Designation.