•  59
    On the Supposed Duty to Try One's Hardest in Sports
    Philosophy in the Contemporary World 18 (2): 1-10. 2011.
    It is a common refrain in sports discourse that one should try one's hardest in sports, or some other variation on this theme. In this paper I argue that there is no generalized duty to try one's hardest in sports, and that the claim that one should do so is ambiguous. Although a number of factors point in the direction of my conclusion, particularly salient is the claim that, in the end, the putative requirement is too stringent for creatures like human beings. The putative duty to try one's ha…Read more
  •  48
    Coaches’ Accountability for Pain and Suffering in the Athletic Body
    Professional Ethics, a Multidisciplinary Journal 9 (3-4): 9-26. 2001.
  •  39
    Why sports morally matter
    Sport, Ethics and Philosophy 1 (3). 2007.
    No abstract
  •  35
    Making A Comeback
    Sport, Ethics and Philosophy 5 (1): 4-20. 2011.
    In this paper I explore the nature, varieties, causes and meanings of comebacks related to sport. I argue that comebacks have an axiological dimension, and that the best comebacks involve personal growth. I attempt to show that a major reason that comebacks connected to sport are often inspiring is that we are all in need of a comeback at some point in our lives. When improbable comebacks occur in the world of sport, they expand our sense of possibility
  •  31
    The Ethics of Sports Coaching
    Sport, Ethics and Philosophy 6 (3): 393-396. 2012.
    Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, Volume 6, Issue 3, Page 393-396, August 2012
  •  23
    Underdogs, upsets, and overachievers
    Journal of the Philosophy of Sport 44 (1): 15-28. 2017.
    This paper explores three phenomena in sport that are connected to narratives of hope: underdogs, upsets, and overachievers. Each of these phenomena is complex. I seek not only to understand the intrinsic nature of these phenomena, but also to explain why they captivate the imagination. After exploring some partial explanations of their enduring appeal, I focus on how the drama associated with underdogs, upsets, and overachievers in sport illuminates the human condition and awakens our sense of …Read more
  •  22
    Coaching a Kingdom of Ends
    Journal of the Philosophy of Sport 27 (1): 51-62. 2000.
    No abstract
  •  21
    Living Like There's No Tomorrow
    Philosophy in the Contemporary World 16 (1): 79-88. 2009.
    This paper explores whether resolving to "live like there's no tomorrow" would be conducive to living life to the fullest. While there is much to commend a life lived with a sense of urgency, I conclude that living like there's no tomorrow, in the final analysis, is neither advisable, nor realizable. In its place I suggest a life lived in mindfulness of the transitory and uncertain nature of our lives.
  •  17
    Sport and the anxious mind
    Journal of the Philosophy of Sport 46 (2): 177-190. 2019.
    ABSTRACTSport is the locus of varieties of athletic experience. In this paper, I focus on anxiety as a felt experience in sport. Anxiety is often experienced as a form of psychological distress. It...
  •  14
    On Playing With Emotion
    Journal of the Philosophy of Sport 30 (1): 26-36. 2003.
    No abstract
  •  12
    Sport, Ethics, and Neurophilosophy
    Sport, Ethics and Philosophy 11 (3): 259-263. 2017.
    The influence of neuroscience looms large today. In this introductory essay, we provide some context for the volume by acknowledging the expansion of applied neuroscience to everyday life and the proliferation of neuroscientific disciplines. We also observe that some individuals have sounded cautionary notes in light of perceived overreach of some claims for neuroscience. Then we briefly summarize the articles that comprise this volume. This diverse collection of papers represents the beginning …Read more
  •  11
    Two Kinds of Brain Injury in Sport
    Sport, Ethics and Philosophy 11 (3): 294-306. 2017.
    After years of skepticism and denials regarding the significance of concussions in sport, the issue is now front and center. This is fitting, given that the impact of concussions in sport is profound. Thus, it is with trepidation that one ventures to direct some attention onto brain injuries other than concussions incurred through sport. Given a closer look, however, it may be that considering various kinds of brain injuries, with different causes, will help us better understand the range and se…Read more
  •  11
    Sports and Naiveté
    Journal of the Philosophy of Sport 42 (2): 219-231. 2015.
    This paper examines varieties of naiveté manifested in the world of sport. In particular, I examine epistemological, ethical, and metaphysical naiveté. My contention is that virtually from cradle to grave forms of naiveté toward sport are present. We are tempted and all too often succumb to the temptation to accept appearances. But the initial appearances of sport often disappoint, and the underlying reality that confronts us is sometimes a hard reality. Faced with disappointment and exposed ill…Read more
  •  9
    Coaches’ Accountability for Pain and Suffering in the Athletic Body
    Professional Ethics, a Multidisciplinary Journal 9 (3): 9-26. 2001.
  •  8
    Sports and “The Fragility of Goodness”
    Journal of the Philosophy of Sport 31 (1): 34-46. 2004.
  •  7
    Volume 47, Issue 2, July 2020, Page 322-325.
  •  6
    Philosophy, Sport and the Pandemic (edited book)
    Routledge. 2022.
    The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on every aspect of our social, cultural and commercial lives, including the world of sport. This book examines the ethical and philosophical dimensions of the intersection of COVID-19 and sport. The book goes beyond simple description of the impact of the pandemic on sport to offer normative judgments about how the sporting world responded to challenges posed by COVID-19, as well as philosophical speculation as to how COVID-19 will change our understanding…Read more
  •  1
    Running religiously
    In Michael W. Austin (ed.), Running and Philosophy: A Marathon for the Mind, Blackwell. 2007.
  • Self-Esteem, Moral Luck, and the Meaning of Grace
    Dissertation, Indiana University. 1996.
    My dissertation discusses the notion of self-esteem in contemporary moral psychology. I characterize self-esteem as a "felt sense" and draw on Heidegger's notion of Befindlichkeit to indicate how self-esteem involves finding ourselves situated in the world in a certain way. After giving consideration to some reservations about self-esteem, I argue that a form of high self-esteem may be viewed as a kind of virtue or excellence belonging to an exemplary life. I give due attention to the contingenc…Read more
  • Introduction
    In Jeffrey P. Fry & Andrew Edgar (eds.), Philosophy, Sport and the Pandemic, Routledge. 2022.
  • Coda
    In Jeffrey P. Fry & Andrew Edgar (eds.), Philosophy, Sport and the Pandemic, Routledge. 2022.