Michael W. Austin

Covering interesting and varied philosophical terrain, _Cycling - Philosophy for Everyone_ explores in a fun but critical way the rich philosophical, cultural, and existential experiences that arise when two wheels are propelled by human energy. Incorporates or reflects the views of high-profile and notable past-professional cyclists and insiders such as Lennard Zinn, Scott Tinley, and Lance Armstrong Features contributions from the areas of cultural studies, kinesiology, literature, and political science as well as from philosophers Includes enlightening essays on the varieties of the cycling experience, ranging from the ethical issues of success, women and cycling, environmental issues of commuting and the transformative potential of cycling for personal growth Shows how bicycling and philosophy create the perfect tandem Includes a foreword by Lennard Zinn, author and owner of Zinn Cycles Inc.

From the Editorial Introduction: "If the first volume of Speculations was enough of an explicit wager, a willing blind leap in the terra incognita of the publishing world, then this volume forces us to stop and evaluate the reasons for the journal's protracted existence. This is all the more important when we consider how the range of meanings of the term 'speculative realism' seems to be growing—with increasing numbers of thinkers situating themselves in its trail, or holding a somewhat cautious interest in it—while its e ective reference seems nowhere to be found. …"

In this chapter, it is argued that humility is an apt trait for competitive contexts. This claim is important in part because one might think that humility is a virtue in some realms of life but not others, and it is likely that many would include competitive contexts in the latter. In support of the claim that humility is apt for such contexts, I first describe particular conceptions of the virtue of humility and of the trait of competitiveness. Next, I discuss some possible problems that arise when we consider how the virtue of humility might function in competitive contexts. Finally, I demonstrate that humility is in fact an apt trait for the competitive realms of sport, business, and academia.

Chapter 15 develops a Christian approach to humility, observing that many analyses of humility, both religious and secular, emphasize its self-regarding aspects, including certain forms of self-knowledge, awareness of one’s limitations, and an acknowledgment of dependence on others. The chapter focuses on some underappreciated social aspects of Christian humility and argues that on a Christian view, humility is important relative to how humans relate to God and to one another. The primary aim of the chapter is to offer an analysis of some of the social aspects of this virtue, with a focus on relationships with other human persons. The chapter also considers two objections to this account of Christian humility in order to offer a limited defense of the account as well as a further explanation of its contents.

A unique anthology of essays exploring the philosophical wisdom runners contemplate when out for a run. It features writings from some of America’s leading philosophers, including Martha Nussbaum, Charles Taliaferro, and J.P. Moreland. A first-of-its-kind collection of essays exploring those gems of philosophical wisdom runners contemplate when out for a run Topics considered include running and the philosophy of friendship; the freedom of the long distance runner; running as aesthetic experience, and “Could a Zombie Run a Marathon?” Contributing essayists include philosophers with athletic experience at the collegiate level, philosophers whose pasttime is running, and one philosopher who began running to test the ideas in his essay.

Offering philosophical insights into the popular morning brew, _Coffee -- Philosophy for Everyone_ kick starts the day with an entertaining but critical discussion of the ethics, aesthetics, metaphysics, and culture of coffee. Matt Lounsbury of pioneering business Stumptown Coffee discusses just how good coffee can be Caffeine-related chapters cover the ethics of the coffee trade, the metaphysics of coffee and the centrality of the coffee house to the public sphere Includes a foreword by Donald Schoenholt, President at Gillies Coffee Company.

_Fatherhood - Philosophy for Everyone_ offers fathers wisdom and practical advice drawn from the annals of philosophy. Both thought-provoking and humorous, it provides a valuable starting and ending point for reflecting on this crucial role. Address the roles, experiences, ethics, and challenges of fatherhood from a philosophical perspective Includes essays on Confucius, Socrates, the experience of African fatherhood, and the perspective of two women writers Explores the changing role of fatherhood and investigates what it means to be a father An ideal complement to _Motherhood - Philosophy for Everyone_ (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010)

Covering interesting and varied philosophical terrain, _Cycling - Philosophy for Everyone_ explores in a fun but critical way the rich philosophical, cultural, and existential experiences that arise when two wheels are propelled by human energy. Incorporates or reflects the views of high-profile and notable past-professional cyclists and insiders such as Lennard Zinn, Scott Tinley, and Lance Armstrong Features contributions from the areas of cultural studies, kinesiology, literature, and political science as well as from philosophers Includes enlightening essays on the varieties of the cycling experience, ranging from the ethical issues of success, women and cycling, environmental issues of commuting and the transformative potential of cycling for personal growth Shows how bicycling and philosophy create the perfect tandem Includes a foreword by Lennard Zinn, author and owner of Zinn Cycles Inc.

Some followers of Christ claim that sports are pointless activities and even spiritually dangerous, given some of the values that are present within them. Other Christians look more favorably upon the value of sports. In this paper, I defend the latter view. I focus on the manner in which sports can provide a context for and be exercises in Christian spiritual formation. I then examine the practical implications this has for Christians who are athletes, coaches, and parents of children who participate in sports, and conclude that sports can offer a unique way for us to glorify God.

In this paper, I examine two contemporary models of sport, the Martial/Commercial (MC) Model and the Aesthetic/Recreational (AR) Model, from the perspective of Stoic philosophy. Drawing on the writings of Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca, much is found to praise in the AR model, though, ultimately, the AR emphasis on pleasure over virtue as an outcome is criticized. Stoic philosophy proves much more critical of the MC model, finding its emphasis on winning over everything, fame, and wealth critically flawed. The paper ends with a brief sketch of a Stoic approach to sport.