New Release: Martial Arts and the Philosophy of Sport by Mark Stone

I'm excited to announced the newest publication in the Studies in Philosophy of Sport series: 

Martial Arts and the Philosophy of Sport by Mark Stone

Martial Arts and the Philosophy of Sport brings together martial arts and Eastern philosophical wisdom with the competitive world of sports as games. This exploration goes beyond the conventional view of martial arts as fighting skills and delves into their evolution as competitive Olympic sports and profound ways of self-cultivation.

Mark Stone reveals the philosophical underpinnings of both disciplines, which engage not only the body but also the mind, fostering a holistic mind-body experience. The book illuminates concepts like “no-mind” from Japanese philosophy and ”in the zone” as a mode of peak athletic performance and showcases how these practices transcend mere physicality to encompass aesthetic, competitive, and cooperative dimensions.

Martial Arts and the Philosophy of Sport argues that both martial arts and sports are forms of striving play—activities pursued for their intrinsic value and for the personal fulfillment they bring. In addition to its contributions to philosophy of sport, aesthetics, and comparative philosophy, the arguments explored in this book also offers martial artists and sports enthusiasts alike a profound understanding of their pursuits as integral to life's enduring goals, and even to understand their pursuit of excellence as a path to enlightenment.

Available from  Rowman, Amazon, and other booksellers.

JPS: Book Reviewers Needed

The Journal of the Philosophy of Sport is looking for book reviewers. Specifically, they are looking for people to review the following:

• Return of the Grasshopper – https://www.routledge.com/Return-of-the-Grasshopper-Games-Leisure-and-the-Good-Life-in-the-Third/Suits-Yorke-Frias/p/book/9781032201368
• Sport Realism – https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781666920093/Sport-Realism-A-Law-Inspired-Theory-of-Sport
• Surfing and the Philosophy of Sport – https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781793640789/Surfing-and-the-Philosophy-of-Sport
• Somaesthetics and the Philosophy of Culture - https://www.routledge.com/Somaesthetics-and-the-Philosophy-of-Culture-Projects-in-Japan/Higuchi/p/book/9780367443436
• Restoring Trust in Sport Corruption Cases and Solutions – https://www.routledge.com/Restoring-Trust-in-Sport-Corruption-Cases-and-Solutions/Ordway/p/book/9780367473068
• The Athlete’s Covenant – https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781498583992/The-Athletes-Covenant-The-Moral-Transformation-of-Team-Players

If you are interested, reach out to Emily Ryall, associate editor and book review editor, at JPS.

New Book: Sport Realism: A Law Inspired Theory of Sport

I'm thrilled to announce the publication of the newest book in the Studies in Philosophy of Sport Book Series.

In Sport Realism: A Law-Inspired Theory of Sport, Aaron Harper defends a new theory of sport—sport realism—to show how rules, traditions, and officiating decisions define the way sport is played. He argues that sport realism, broadly inspired by elements of legal realism, best explains how players, coaches, officials, and fans participate in sport. It accepts that decisions in sport will derive from a variety of reasons and influences, which are taken into account by participants who aim to predict how officials will make future rulings. Harper extends this theoretical work to normative topics, applying sport realist analysis to numerous philosophical debates and ethical dilemmas in sport. Later chapters include investigations into rules disputes, strategic fouls, replay, and makeup calls, as well as the issue of cheating in sport. The numerous examples and case studies throughout the book provide a wide-ranging and illuminating study of sport, ranging from professional sports to pick-up games.

Table of Contents:

• Chapter 1: Interpretivism
• Chapter 2: Hard Cases for Interpretivism
• Chapter 3: Legal Realism and Sport Realism
• Chapter 4: Cheating
• Chapter 5: Sport Realism and Ethics

About the Author:

Aaron Harper is associate professor of philosophy at West Liberty University.

Available now at Amazon, Lexington, and other book sellers.

Studies in Philosophy of Sport Book Series 

Series Editor: Shawn E. Klein, Ph.D. (sklein@asu.edu // sportsethicist@gmail.com ) 

The Studies in Philosophy of Sport series from Lexington Books encourages scholars from all disciplines to inquire into the nature, importance, and qualities of sport and related activities. The series aims to encourage new voices and methods for the philosophic study of sport while also inspiring established scholars to consider new questions and approaches in this field. 

More on the series.

Cross-posted: https://sportsethicist.com/2022/08/10/new-book-sport-realism-a-law-inspired-theory-of-sport/

New Book: Golf As Meaningful Play: A Philosophical Guide

I am pleased to announce the publication of a new book in the Studies in Philosophy of Sport series from Lexington Books:

Golf As Meaningful Play: A Philosophical Guide by W. Thomas Schmid.

Golf as Meaningful Play offers a philosophical introduction to golf as a sporting practice and source of personal meaning. It is intended both for scholars interested in the philosophy of sport, and for intellectually curious golfers who seek a better understanding of the game. This book describes the physical, emotional, mental, and ethical aspects of the game and how they influence golf instruction.

It looks at golf as play, game, sport, and spectacle, discusses golf’s heroes, communities, and traditions, and analyzes the role of the virtues in golf, linking them to self-fulfillment, the ultimate good of golf experience. The book concludes with discussions of classic works of golf literary and film art, including Caddyshack, Missing Links, Tin Cup, and Golf in the Kingdom, which celebrate its follies and glories. 

The fact that golf can serve as a playful laboratory to test oneself is a deep part of the game’s attraction. Golf, if played well, conveys an experience which unites happiness, excellence, and interpersonal flourishing. This book strives to give an account of golf both as it is and as it ought to be—how golfers may improve their games and even themselves, in meaningful play.

Available at Amazon, Lexington, and other book sellers.

Blog of the APA: Golf as Meaningful Play

I was interviewed about the International Association for the Philosophy of Sport’s session at the APA Central Division Meeting in March 2017 in Kansas City. The session, as readers of this blog are probably aware, was an Author Meets Critics on Golf As Meaningful Play: A Philosophical Guide (forthcoming) by W. Thomas Schmid (University of North Carolina at Wilmington).

You can read the Blog of the APA interview here.

New Book: Defining Sport

I'm proud to announce the publication of my edited volume: Defining Sport: Conceptions and Borderlines. Several contributors to this blog contributed to this volume.

This is the first volume in Lexington Books' Studies in the Philosophy of Sport series. [As editor of this series, I'd love to hear ideas for contributions to this series. Contact me with ideas.] 

Part One examines several of the standard and influential approaches to defining sport. Part Two uses these approaches to examine various challenging borderline cases (e.g. bullfighting, skateboarding, esport, Crossfit). These chapters examine the interplay of the borderline cases with the definition and provide a more thorough and clearer understanding of the definition and the given cases.

See the full listing of chapters and contributors on my SportsEthicist blog.

It is available from Lexington, Amazon, and other booksellers. There is also an ebook version.

Call for Papers: Defining Sport

Call for Papers: Book Chapters

• Working Title: “Defining Sport: Contemporary Explorations”
• Publisher: Proposal will be submitted to Lexington Books
• Editor: Shawn E. Klein, PhD; sklein@rockford.edu

The focus of the book is to bring new scholarly attention to the issues and questions involved in defining and explaining the nature of sport. There are several classic works that treat these issues, but with the growth of the philosophy of sport a renewed focus on how to define and conceptualize sport is needed. Chapter ideas:

• Analyses of common approaches to defining sport (or related concepts such as competition or athlete) in the philosophy of sport literature. (E.g. Bernard Suits, essentialism, formalism, interpretivism, and externalism.)
• New approaches to defining sport (and related concepts).
• Examination of borderline cases  (e.g. Motor Sports; Animal Sports, cyber-sports, fantasy sports)
• Analysis of problematic cases ( e.g violent/blood sports)
• Discussions of methodological differences between philosophy and other disciplines in terms of defining sport and related concepts.
  • E.g. Are there differences between philosophical approaches and sociological approaches? How might these differences affect how sport is studied or discussed in these disciplines and across disciplines?

If you are interested in contributing a book chapter to this volume, please send a tentative title, a brief abstract for review (500 words) and C.V or short bio, to the book editor: Shawn E. Klein: sklein@rockford.edu

• Abstract deadline: July 11, 2014
• Notification of abstract acceptance by July 25, 2014
• Chapter Manuscript Deadline: December 12, 2014
  • Length: 6000-10,000 words (inclusive of references and notes).
  • Manuscripts should conform to Chicago style.

PDF: Call for Papers Defining Sport
Cross-posted: http://sportsethicist.com/2014/05/15/call-for-papers-defining-sport/

New 3rd edition of The Grasshopper

Broadview Press has released a 3rd edition of the Bernard Suits classic: The Grasshopper: Games, Life and Utopia. The new edition restores the illustrations from the original publication. Also, there is a new appendix on the meaning of play. It looks like the appendix is Suits' "Words On Play" article.

At The Sports Ethicist blog, I've reposted a brief review of The Grasshopper. Also, I discuss Suit's "Words on Play" article.

And another book... The Bloomsbury Companion to the Philosophy of Sport

Introduction, Cesar R. Torres

Part I: History and Development

• A History of Philosophic Ideas about Sport, David Lunt and Mark Dyreson

Part II: Research Methodology

• The Philosophy of Sport and Analytic Philosophy, Scott Kretchmar
• The Philosophy of Sport and Continental Philosophy, Vegard Fusche Moe
• The Philosophy of Sport, Eastern Philosophy and Pragmatism, Jesús Ilundáin-Agurruza, Koyo Fukasawa and Mizuho Takemura

Part III: Current Research and Key Issues

• Theories of Sport, Robert L. Simon
• Fairness and Justice in Sport, Sigmund Loland
• The Ethics of Enhancing Performance, Sarah Teetzel
• Disability and Sport, Carwyn Jones
• Sport, Risk and Danger, Leslie A. Howe
• Sport and the Environment–Ecosophical and Metanoetical Intersections, Ron Welters
• The Aesthetics of Sport, Stephen Mumford
• Sporting Knowledge, Gunnar Breivik
• Sport and Ideology, Lamartine P. DaCosta
• Competitive Sport, Moral Development and Peace, J. S. Russell
• Sport, Spirituality and Religion,Simon Robinson
• Sport and Violence, Danny Rosenberg

Part IV: Future Developments

• Sport and Technological Development, Alun Hardman
• Conceivable Horizons of Equality in Sport, Pam R. Sailors
• ‘Spoiled Sports’: Markets and the Corruption of Sport,William J. Morgan
• Sport Philosophy around the World, Peter M. Hopsicker and IvoJirásek

Part V: Glossary of Key Terms and Concepts

Part VI: Resources and Careers

• Resource Guide, Emily Ryall
• Careers, Charlene Weaving

Part VII: The Literature

• The Sport Philosophy Literature: Foundations, Evolutions and Annotations, Tim Elcombe, Douglas Hochstetler and Douglas W. McLaughlin