Sport Philosophy
Chapter five
Student Learning Objectives
1. Understand philosophy as a formal field of
study of Kinesiology & Physical Education
2. Understand how sport philosophy
contributes to the practice of sport &
physical education
Continue with SLO’s
3.
Understand that philosophy involves
asking questions
posing challenges
searching for deeper meanings
4. Empiricism involves evaluating for
factual evidence that can be measured,
seen, heard, felt, etc
Continue with SLO’s
5.
Understand the different branches of
philosophy in the area of sport & PE
6. Identify with some philosophers of
science, education and physical education
Continue with SLO’s
7. Students should understand
the philosophical differences
between games & play.
Why should we study Philosophy?
 The definition of philosophy is the study
of wisdom, knowledge and the truth. It
poses several questions?
 What do we know?
 Why is it important that we know it?
 What is the process?
Give me an example
What do we know
Why is it important
What is the process
In Ms. Duke Simple Words…
Is to let us pull the “blinders”
away from our eyes, break with
conventional ideas & follow
new ideas.
What is the Importance in Studying
Philosophy of Physical Activity?
(Sport Philosophy)
It can help develop critical
thinking.
Some principles are based on
logic and good judgment.
Critical Thinking
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OLPL5p0fMg&fea
ture=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oefmPtsV_w4&fea
ture=related
Continue
 It helps develop well-reasoned
arguments.
 It can help us become more
open minded.
 It can makes us entertain, examine, &
accept new ideas, theories, that
might have been ignored or rejected
Five Traditional Branches of
Philosophies
Idealism
Realism
Pragmatism
Naturalism
Existentialism
Idealism
Physical
Therapist
Plato
Reality
Mind & Body
Your Textbook Calls Idealism - Dualism
 The modern philosophers call it
Dualism
 Persons are composed of two
substances: Body and Mind.
Realism
 Personal
Trainer
 Aristotle
 Scientific Laws
& Methods
 Scientific
Investigations
Pragmatism
Athletic
Director
Experiences
American
John Dewey
Naturalism
Jean-Jacques
Rousseau
Each student’s
goals
Self-Education
& Self-Activity
Existentialism
Personal
Experiences &
Choices
Individual
activities
Your Textbook
Ways to understand Body and Mind
Materialism
Dualism
Holism like
Materialism
The Materialism believe that all
that exists is the physical; no
spiritual, psychic. You study the
person as a movement
machine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELIB6O9zEQI
DUALISM
– Mind & Body
Like what type of traditional
branch?
Idealism
Other Philosophies
 Inductive
 Students:
Reasoning
 What Inductive
 From specific
reasons make
develops a
up a sport?
general
principle
Continue with Other Philosophies
 Deductive
Reasoning
 Starts with
general principles
and then
develops
specifics
 What deductive reasons
you have to believe that
chess is not a sport?
Group Project
Sports
Characteristics
Athletic ability & skills
Physical defense
Competition
Physical Exertion
Governed by a set of rules
Winning
A sport can be a game
Games
Characteristics
 Mild Physical Exertion
 Limited skill
 Luck
 Recreational activity
 Some rules – change
them?
 Enjoyment or
Entertainment
 A game may not be a
sport
Hobbies & Competition
Hobbies
Competition
 Activity or interest
 Requires two parties,
 Done outside one’s
but not necessary
against each other.
 Can be done by
yourself
 Surpassing a
performance
 It can determine
winners and losers
regular job.
 For fun
 For Pleasure
Sports & Games
 Motor skills are required to reach its goal
 Games are created by:
 set of rules
 specific goal to be achieved
 limit the means that participants can use to
reach the goal
 Textbook – pages 142-143
Play & Duty in Sport
Duty-Like Sport Play- Like Sport
We do it for
 We participate
for the benefits,
we do it for what
it does for us.
 Oprah
Intrinsic value.
We do it for the
sake of
enjoyment.
Ms. Duke
Values Promoted by the Field of
Physical activity
Depending on the goals, the approach to
Physical Activity is different
 Knowledge – research – scholarly study
 Activity related pleasure & Activity related
for fun– like Mr. Pratt’s hiking class
What Values are Promoted in
Physical Activity
Health Related
Physical Fitness –
Name them
Motor Skills – Name
Them
Health Related Physical Fitness
Four Components
Motor Skills
Do we as Professionals have
Responsibilities?
The National
Strength and
Conditioning
Association
(NSCA) Code of
Conduct
Do we as Professionals have
Responsibilities?
1. Non- Discriminate
On the basis of race, color, sex,
age, religion, or national origin.
2. What type of conduct?
Personally & professionally in a manner
that does not compromise their
professional responsibility
3. Truthful in what?
Education & Experience
Moral Values
High School
Physical
Education
Teacher
Professional Knowledge and
Expertise
Ms. Perez
Kickboxing
Class
Content Relative to Standards
Walk- Jog Class
Runners – 10K
Walk-Joggers
– 5 Miles
Walkers – 4
Miles
Delivery of
Instruction/Information
Mr. Mathis
Master’s Class @
SJSU
San Jose Mercury
News Article –
Student Behavior
The Way you Treat your Students
Ms. Duke first
year at EVC
dealing with my
Vietnamese
students
Are we responsible to instill
certain values on our students,
players & clients?
History
Since the times of the Greeks
until today, we have held our
athletes, coaches, educators
responsible for the
enhancement of ethical
behavior
Would you teach this to your
athlete?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vze
KiEtp0m0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvE
obeNfGcc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByN
h-Q5jOic
AXIOLOGY
 Is the concept that
teachers/coaches/
trainers should instill
certain values in our
students, athletes and
clients.
Ethics
Ethics – The study of moral
values of oneself or for the
good of others. In your own
words what is ethics?
Should Parents/Athletes /Coaches be
allowed to verbally abuse officials?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezZ2ZRfSsLY
Make Groups
Agree or Disagree
Examples of Ethical Choices
 Should children be cut when trying for a
sport.
 Should a coach teach an athlete how to
intimidate the opponent player?
 Should an athlete be required to pass all
school subjects in order to play on an
athletics?
Ethical Behavior in Sport
Fair play – playing within
the rules
Seeking to win within the
rules and not “at all costs”
Opponents should be
treated with respect
Ethical Behavior in Sport
 Games are played as mutual
quests for excellence, is
intimidation inappropriate
 Retribution for violent on
unfair action is never
acceptable.
George Sheehan
 Internationally known
as the Runner’s
Philosopher in 1970’s
& 1980’s
 He defined the right
brain as philosophic
and the left brain as
practical.
Dr. George Sheehan
Runner’s Philosopher
"Fitness has to be fun. If it is not play,
there will be no fitness. Play, you see,
is the process. Fitness is merely the
product.
 "Once you have decided that
winning isn't everything, you become
a winner.“

 http://www.georgesheehan.com/
Your Philosophy
What would be your philosophy?
1. As a high school teacher - What are
your goals?
2. As a club coach – What is your value
about winning?
3. As a personal trainer – How long
should you train with the client
What would be your philosophy?
4. As an athletic trainer – Playing the player
for the good of the team/coach.
5. As a manager of Curves – Increasing the
number of clients.
6. As a unemployed physical education
teacher – What philosophy does this
person have?
Ms. Duke Philosophy
with the help of George Sheehan
 "No matter how old I get, sports remain one
of life's most rewarding experiences.
My movements become slower and slower,
but the experience of the sport is unchanged:
each game a drama, each game a challenge,
each game stretching me in one way or
another, and each sport movement telling me
more about myself and others.”
QUIZ
1. Give me an example of duty-like sport and
an example of play-like sport. Which one
reflects your philosophy?
2. Name one of the four components of Health
Related Physical Fitness and name one
component from Motor Skills. What
makes them different?