Both Sides of the Circle

While philosophy of sport has tended to focus on the participator, the majority of people actually experience sport as a spectator. Stephen Mumford here considers the philosophical import of watching sport, suggesting that far from being passive it is an aesthetic, a moral and an emotional experience for spectators. Delving into parallels with art and theatre in terms of a release from the self, this book outlines the aesthetic qualities of sport from the incidental beauty of a well-executed football pass to the enshrined artistic interpretation inherent in performed sports such as ice-skating or gymnastics. We then move on to consider the moral lessons to be learned from watching competitive sport, looking at the rewards of endeavour and the penalties of cheating and how these apply to a wider approach to life. Finally, sport is recognized as a focus of profound emotional experiences, bringing an essential human touch into a theoretical and academic forum of debate. Addressing such universal themes, this book will appeal to a broad audience across philosophical disciplines and sports studies.