INTRODUCTION
This brief article introduces the special section on the ancient philosophy of sport. The article introduces the various papers, explains the background of the project and thanks the appropriate parties.
Key Words: Introduction, ancient sport, philosophy, poetics
On March 4 and 5, 2020, as the gloomy shadow of COVID-19 fear descended on the earth, a group of scholars met at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Institute of Sports, Media and Society to deliver papers on the philosophy of sport in the ancient world. These papers became the source material for this special section on ancient sport.
The goal of this project was to explore the philosophy of ancient sport from a variety of perspectives, showing ancient sport as more diverse, complex and illuminating than many may have imagined. In order to achieve that goal, we brought together scholars in philosophy, linguistics, the classics, rhetoric, and religion. We asked each author to produce an original study that explored the philosophy of ancient sport from a fresh perspective. Ideally, each work should offer a fresh look at the subject that showed ways in which philosophical considerations of ancient sport might speak to the world of contemporary sport.
Michael W. Austin took up the charge with ‘A Stoic Critique of Contemporary Sport’. Drawing on various stoic texts, Austin offers a critical discussion of contemporary notions of sport, particularly the Martial/Commercial Model and the Aesthetic/Recreational Model. Austin finds that the Stoics offer much to think about regarding both models including the tension that exists between the models.
In a typically lucid and insightful paper, Heather L. Reid examined ‘Plato on Women in Sport’. Reid’s discussion brings fresh insight and some surprising conclusions regarding gender and sport in Plato’s Laws. Reid suggests that the discussion of gender equity in sport is not as exclusively contemporary as we might have supposed. She offers compelling evidence that Plato believed sport held an important place in the social development of girls as well as boys.
Stamatia Dova turned to the intersection of ancient poetry and the philosophy of sport. Dova’s ‘On Princes and Carpenters Boxing in Homer’ examines the role of social status in the ethos of ancient sport. Examining Epeios, a character with great skill in boxing, a skill that does not translate into military prowess, Dova offers a fascinating and close analysis of the distinctions between success in competition and bravery in battle and between social class and athletic success.
In a similar vein, Nigel Nicholson traces the public place of trainers in his paper ‘Between physician and athlete: the idea of the trainer in Epinician poetry’. Nicholson argues that the poetically constructed role of the trainer was complicated by a culture which idealized athletic skills as purely natural and untrained and which was uncomfortable with the mercenary nature of trainers who took part in sports for pay (perhaps reminding us of issues revolving around the idea and ideal of ‘amateur’ athletics over the last two centuries). Hence, despite the fact that trainers were a necessary part of the process of ancient sport, they existed within a public blind spot, a place to be seen when in use but invisible in athletic success.
Susan A. Stephens examined ‘Cheating and gaming the system in ancient athletics’. Framing her analysis of ancient cheating within the context of cheating in current sports, professional and amateur, Stephens finds that many of the forms of cheating common among ancient athletes are strikingly similar to forms of cheating that continue today. One key parallel Stephens traces is the role of monetary and personal rewards in motivating athletes and their trainers to cheat.
Finally, Daniel T. Durbin’s ‘From Plato to St. Paul: ancient sport as performative public discourse’ challenges us to rethink the role of sport as a public enterprise. Drawing on the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle and on the epistles of St. Paul and St. Ignatius of Antioch, Durbin posits the novel notion that perhaps sport is less a religion than religion is a type of sport.
This special section of the Journal of the Philosophy of Sport would not be possible without the support and participation of a number of people. First and foremost, I would like to thank Paul Gaffney, Editor of the JPS. Paul’s willingness to open the pages of this journal to an extended discussion of ancient sport made this project possible. Further, his editorial comments, criticisms and insights have greatly enhanced this research. Paul has proven an invaluable resource and ally.
I would also like to thank Heather Reid for suggesting a collaboration with Paul on this project. Despite being caught up in the middle of a pandemic, Heather has been an outstanding partner and support throughout the project.
Thanks, of course, are due to the authors who gave of their time, energy and ideas to move this discussion forward. Just as the conference ended, we received word that the University of Southern California would immediately begin online teaching. It was an ominous conclusion to a handful of days that held some of the most enjoyable conversations (formal and informal), presentations and meals of my career. In hopes of a time when we may rejoin these conversations in person, I thank all of the participants who made this project so enjoyable.
Finally, I would like to thank my assistant at the University of Southern California Annenberg Institute of Sports, Media and Society, Julianna J. Kirschner. Julianna did the heavy lifting in scheduling and promotion for this conference. Without her help, I’d likely lose my way trying to find my own office. So, I owe her my thanks.
Several thousand years of wars, empires and pandemics separate us from the philosophy of ancient sport. I hope these articles show that these ancient ideas can continue to speak to our minds and hearts today and that what we write and say now can live on beyond the challenges we face in a world in crisis.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.