PANEL 2 / REASSESSING PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON LEISURE, GAME AND SPORT
CONVENORS: PAULO ANTUNES and CATARINA TELLO DE CASTRO
All inquiries about the panel should be sent to [email protected] and [email protected].
Philosophy has long examined the profound impact of “play” on human experience. Activities such as games, rituals, singing, and dancing have been viewed as fundamental aspects of life (Plato). Schiller’s renewed emphasis on “play,” influenced by Kant and Romanticism, marked a pivotal development in this exploration. Over time, this philosophical tradition evolved into a multidisciplinary field encompassing sociology, anthropology, computational studies, and more. Huizinga’s Homo Ludens proposed that nearly every facet of human life—from the arts to politics and law—can be understood through the lens of “play.” However, the field has since diversified, often branching in new and challenging directions.
This call for papers invites submissions that explore the theoretical foundations of “game” (including board games, sports, and related activities) and “play” (in both specific and broad applications). We aim to critically engage with core topics shaping the field today, including the concepts’ nature, ethical implications (e.g., cheating, doping, professionalization), and the evolving role of technology in sports.Contributions addressing complex and controversial cases—whether historical or contemporary—are especially welcome, particularly those utilizing primarily (though not exclusively) philosophical approaches.
Potential questions we seek to address include:
We warmly invite scholars from diverse backgrounds to join this exploration into the evolving field of play, games, and sport, contributing to an interdisciplinary understanding that bridges philosophy and society.
All inquiries about the panel should be sent to [email protected] and [email protected].
Philosophy has long examined the profound impact of “play” on human experience. Activities such as games, rituals, singing, and dancing have been viewed as fundamental aspects of life (Plato). Schiller’s renewed emphasis on “play,” influenced by Kant and Romanticism, marked a pivotal development in this exploration. Over time, this philosophical tradition evolved into a multidisciplinary field encompassing sociology, anthropology, computational studies, and more. Huizinga’s Homo Ludens proposed that nearly every facet of human life—from the arts to politics and law—can be understood through the lens of “play.” However, the field has since diversified, often branching in new and challenging directions.
This call for papers invites submissions that explore the theoretical foundations of “game” (including board games, sports, and related activities) and “play” (in both specific and broad applications). We aim to critically engage with core topics shaping the field today, including the concepts’ nature, ethical implications (e.g., cheating, doping, professionalization), and the evolving role of technology in sports.Contributions addressing complex and controversial cases—whether historical or contemporary—are especially welcome, particularly those utilizing primarily (though not exclusively) philosophical approaches.
Potential questions we seek to address include:
- How does the concept of “play” shape social interactions and community building in contemporary society? - What paradigms can be traced within the history of philosophical thought on leisure and games?
- What are the ethical implications of sports practice today?
- Contemporary Philosophy of Sport: What are the main challenges, and what directions is it taking for the future?
We warmly invite scholars from diverse backgrounds to join this exploration into the evolving field of play, games, and sport, contributing to an interdisciplinary understanding that bridges philosophy and society.
