Philosophy of Sport: Critical Readings, Crucial Issues is a collection of readings on topical issues in philosophy of sport that draws principally from philosophy, but contains some writings from sociological and psychological literature with a philosophical slant. In addition to the introduction, the anthology contains fortythree readings on diverse and contemporary philosophical issues in sport from different perspectives. Each article, on its own, invites critical discussion.

The readings are grouped into five chapters. Chapter One is on the nature of sport and contains eight essays with diverse theses. Chapter Two comprises four essays on aesthetics and sport. The third chapter, on ethical issues, discusses sportsmanship, cheating, winning, violence, and performanceenhancing drugs. There are fourteen readings in this section. Chapter Four, dealing with epistemological issues, contains a reading that addresses assessment of moral character in sport and a second that addresses streak playing. Chapter Five, containing fifteen readings, discusses societal issues and sport. The topics are heroism, gender, race, pedagogy, and sport in society.

I have put this anthology together so that it will be serviceable to those inexperienced in philosophy as well as to more advanced students of philosophy. First, to facilitate understanding, I introduce all readings with some prefatory remarks. For difficult readings, these remarks include a helpful summary of the main line of argument. At the end of each reading, I offer a few questions or comments to stimulate critical analysis. In addition, there is a glossary of key terms at the back of the book.

This user-friendly collection of essays on topical issues in philosophy of sport draws principally from philosophy, but contains some writings from sociological and psychological literature that has a philosophical slant. The anthology contains 44 essays on diverse and contemporary issues in sport from different perspectives. Each article addresses critical and topical issues such as �What is Sport?� �Are female athletes of the same rank as men?� �Is sport a species of art?� and each invites critical discussion. The essays address the following issues: the nature of the sport; aesthetics and sport; ethics and sport; sportspersonship; cheating; winning; violence; performance-enhancing drugs; epistemological issues in sport; sport and society; heroism; gender; race; pedagogy; and sport in society. For athletes and sports fans interested in the philosophy of sport.

INTRODUCTORY ISSUES.

1. Why Study Philosophy of Sport?, M. Andrew Holowchak.

I. THE NATURE OF THE SPORT.

2. Selections from Homo Ludens, John Huizinga.
3. The Nature of Sport: A Definitional Effort, John W. Loy, Jr.
4. Tricky Triad: Games, Play, and Sports, Bernard Suits.
5. Triad Trickery: Playing with Sports and Games, Klaus B. Meier.
6. A Matter of Life and Death: Some Thoughts on the Nature of Sport, Jeffrey O. Segrave.
7. Practices and Prudence, W. Miller Brown.
8. Moral Liberalism and the Atrophy of Sport: Autonomy, Desire, and Social Irresponsibility, M. Andrew Holowchak.
9. Is Sport Unique? A Question of Definability, S.K. Wertz.

II. AESTHETICS AND SPORT.

10. The Well-Played Game: Notes Towards an Aesthetics of Sport, E.F. Kaelin.
11. The Aesthetic in Sport, David Best.
12. Beauty, Sport, and Gender, J.M. Boxill.
13. Differences Between Sport and Art, Christopher Cordner.

III. ETHICS AND SPORT.

Sportspersonship.

14. Three Approaches Toward an Understanding of Sportsmanship, Peter J. Arnold.
15. Sportsmanship and Fairness in the Pursuit of Victory, Robert Simon.

Cheating.

16. Can Cheaters Play the Game?, Craig K. Lehman.
17. Fair Play: Historical Anachronism or Topical Ideal? Sigmund Loland.

Winning.

18. Where's the Merit if the Best Man Wins?, David Carr.
19. The Overemphasis on Winning: A Philosophical Look, Joan Hundley.
20. On Winning and Athletic Superiority, Nicholas Dixon.
21. The Dark Side of Competition, D. Stanley Eitzen.

Violence.

22. Into the End Zone for a Touchdown: A Psychoanalytic Consideration of American Football, Alan Dundes.
23. Violence and Aggression in Contemporary Sport, Jim Parry.
24. Sports and Speciesism, Maurice L. Wade.

Performance-Enhancing Drugs.

25. Paternalism, Drugs, and the Nature of Sports, W. M. Brown.
26. On Performance-Enhancing Substances and the Unfair Advantage Argument, Roger Gardner.
27. 'Aretism' and Pharmacological Ergogenic Aids in Sport: Taking a Shot at the Use of Steroids, M. Andrew Holowchak.

IV. EPISTEMOLOGICAL ISSUES IN SPORT.

28. On Reaching First Base with a 'Science' of Moral Development in Sports: Problems with Scientific Objectivity and Reductivism, Russell W. Gough.
29. An Epistemologist Looks at the Hot Hand in Sport, Stephen D. Hales.

V. SPORT AND SOCIETY.

Heroism.

30. Is Our Admiration for Sports Heroes Fascistoid?, Torbjörn Tännsjö.
31. Sports, Fascism, and the Market, Claudio M. Tamburrini.
32. Television Sports and the Sacrificial Hero, John Izod.

Gender.

33. Women in Masculine Sports, B.D. Postow, Journal of the Philosophy of Sport.
34. Title IX and Gender Equity, Jan Boxill.
35. The Men's Cultural Centre: Sports and Dynamic of Women's Oppression/Men's Repression, Bruce Kidd.
36. Title IX: Equality for Women's Sports? Leslie P. Francis.

Race.

37. African Speed, African Endurance, Amby Burfoot.
38. Racial Difference in Athletics: What's Ethics Got to Do with It?, Albert Mosley.

Pedagogy.

39. Education for Peace in Sports Education, Frans DeWachter.
40. Virtue Lost: Courage in Sport, John Corlett.
41. Aggression, Gender, and Sport: Reflections on Sport as a Means of Moral Education, M. Andrew Holowchak.

Sport in Society.

42. Postscript: Sport in the Larger Scheme of Things, William J. Morgan.
43. Democracy, Education, and Sport, Peter J. Arnold.
44. Sports and the Making of National Identities: A Moral View, William J. Morgan.

Glossary of Key Terms.
Suggestions for Further Reading.