PHIL 214: Philosophy of Sport

This Tier II General Education course within the area of Individuals and Societies recognizes that sport, especially rule-governed sport, appears in and is perhaps characteristic of human society. Consideration of sport as such induces a host of intriguing and important philosophical questions and topics to which this course serves as an introduction. Sample questions to be explored include: What is competition? What makes for a good game? Is it ever permissible to cheat? Is it wrong to enjoy sports that harm animals? Should doping be banned? Is trash-talking unsportsmanlike? What makes for a good fan? And how should referees enforce rules? Course readings draw from classical philosophical texts, contemporary philosophical discussions of sport, as well as popular sports journalism.