The Philosophical Athlete

by Reid, Heather L.

• ISBN13: 9780890894057
• ISBN10: 0890894051
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-09-01
• Publisher: Carolina Academic Press

Table of Contents

Preface: What Is a Philosophical Athlete?	xi
Acknowledgments	xv
Introduction	3	(1)
What We Can Learn from Sport	3	(8)
Four Characteristics of a Philosophical Athlete	11	(6)
Part One Discovering Your Self
Section Preview: ``Know Thyself''	13	(4)
Discovering Yourself as Unique	17	(18)
The Art of Being Who You Are	17	(3)
Moments of Challenge: A Lived Question	20	(4)
Alone with Oneself	24	(4)
Confronting Oneself from the Inside-Out	28	(7)
Chapter Review	33	(2)
Discovering Yourself as Embodied	35	(22)
My Body, My Mind, Myself	35	(3)
Athletic Bodies: From Divine Images to Lab Specimens	38	(5)
Have Athletes Lost Their Minds?	43	(5)
The Athlete's Embodied Self	48	(9)
Chapter Review	53	(4)
Discovering Yourself as Free	57	(22)
The Experience of Freedom in Sport	57	(3)
Freedom from Physical Reality	60	(6)
Freedom from Psychological Limitations	66	(4)
Freedom Is a Matter of Choice	70	(9)
Chapter Review	74	(3)
Part Two Taking Responsibility
Section Preview: ``Choose Thyself''	77	(2)
Responsibility for Actions and Attitudes	79	(18)
Mind Games	79	(2)
Athletic Free Agency: Responsibility for Action	81	(4)
Adopting a Stance on Sport: Responsibility for Perception	85	(5)
Adopting a Stance on Oneself: Responsibility for Self	90	(7)
Chapter Review	94	(3)
Taking Responsibility for Life and Death	97	(22)
Risking, Losing, Dying	97	(3)
Risking in Sport	100	(5)
Losing: A Metaphor for Death	105	(5)
Dying	110	(9)
Chapter Review	116	(3)
Taking Responsibility for Values and Meaning	119	(26)
Finding Meaning in the Athletic Life	119	(2)
Getting the Big Picture	121	(5)
Deciding What Matters: Purpose and Worth	126	(6)
Mapping Out a Meaningful Future	132	(13)
Chapter Review	136	(3)
Part Three Showing Respect
Section Preview: The Ethics of Performance Enhancement	139	(6)
Showing Respect for Your Self	145	(20)
Victory and Virtue in Sports	145	(3)
Getting Clear About Goals (Head)	148	(5)
Motivation (Heart)	153	(4)
Discipline and Desire (Gut)	157	(8)
Chapter Review	162	(3)
Showing Respect for Others	165	(20)
Sport, Violence, and Respect for Others	165	(3)
Competitors	168	(6)
Teammates	174	(4)
Coaches	178	(7)
Chapter Review	182	(3)
Showing Respect for Your Sport	185	(30)
Can High-Tech Equipment Harm a Sport?	185	(3)
The Rules	188	(6)
The Culture	194	(6)
The Internal Goods	200	(15)
Chapter Review	205	(4)
Part Four Working with Others
Section Preview: Drugs, Sport and the Just Society	209	(6)
Liberty and Authority	215	(22)
Freedom of Expression or Excessive Celebration?	215	(3)
Sport as a Social Contract	218	(5)
Negative Freedoms in Sport	223	(5)
An Athlete's Obligation to Sport	228	(9)
Chapter Review	234	(3)
Equality and Difference	237	(20)
White Men Can't Jump?	237	(3)
Equality in Sports: Ideal and Real	240	(5)
The Hidden Power of Social Inequality	245	(6)
Equality in the Sports Contract	251	(6)
Chapter Review	255	(2)
Fairness	257	(22)
Title IX	257	(3)
Fair Play in the Sports Contract	260	(6)
Rewards, Merit, and Entitlement	266	(5)
What Are the Limits of Fairness?	271	(8)
Chapter Review	277	(2)
Conclusion	279	(4)
The Game of Life	279	(2)
Twelve Questions for the Philosophical Athlete	281	(2)
Selected Bibliography	283	(10)
Index	293