Sport and social freedom

"Sport and Social Freedom" entails a philosophical analysis of the links between sport and social freedom in liberal, free-market society. Chapter I involves a critical survey of the traditional (i.e., "sport-as-play") and the contemporary (i.e., "sport-as-alienated-labour") accounts of sport and its connection to freedom. Chapter II addresses the larger issue of social freedom in liberal, free-market society. It also involves a critical assessment of forms of social life that have the potential to express social freedom in distinctive terms even while operating largely under the influence of capitalist institutions. Chapter III explores sport in terms of its potential to express social freedom in distinctively sporting ways. Chapter IV critically examines the institutional operations of some prominent North American professional sport leagues and their impact on sport relations and social freedom within them. The concluding chapter suggests a normative framework for guiding institutional change and enhancing sport's potential to express social freedom. Analysis demonstrated that the view of social freedom offered by the "sport-as-play" account is expressed in metaphysical-spiritual terms, or else in terms entirely supportive of rational-scientific institutions under capitalism. On the "sport-as-alienated-labour" account social freedom was shown to be virtually impossible within capitalist institutions. The distinction made between "social institutions" and "social practices" (and other similar social formations) in Chapter II makes it possible to articulate social freedom in other than simply capitalist terms. The mutual pursuit, acquisition, extension, and appreciation of shared standards of (ethical and aesthetic) excellence in the "good" sport contest was shown in Chapter III to be the basis upon which social freedom between contestants, among teammates, and among spectators can be understood. Analysis of professional sport league operations in Chapter IV showed that social freedom in sport can be threatened by the pursuit of (institutional) economic and political ends. The concluding chapter suggested that the social freedom expressed in social practices could be employed as a normative framework to guide institutional change and this protect sporting excellence and the long term welfare of the practice.