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Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.21464/sp34201

Conceptual Analysis and Normative Inquiry in Sport. A Cautionary Note

William J. Morgan ; University of Southern California, USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, 1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133, Los Angeles, CA 90089–9003


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Full text: english pdf 295 Kb

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Full text: french pdf 295 Kb

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Full text: german pdf 295 Kb

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Abstract

Bernard Suits’s classic definitions of games and sport have been widely credited as important philosophical achievements. I share that laudable view of his definitional work. But in this essay I warn against a growing tendency in the philosophy of sport literature to gloss Suits’s definition of these key concepts as metaphysical achievements as well, as discoveries of the true essences of games and sport. I focus my critical attention on the most recent example of such metaphysical overreach, Colin McGinn’s account of games featured in his recent book, Truth by Analysis: Games, Names, and Philosophy. I argue that McGinn’s metaphysical interpretation of Suits’s conceptual analysis of games and sport is ill conceived and examine the normative fallout of interpreting Suits in this way.

Keywords

conceptual analysis; normative inquiry; metaphysics; essence; social features

Hrčak ID:

232363

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/232363

Publication date:

20.12.2019.

Article data in other languages: croatian french german

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