The discipline area of physical education has historically struggled for legitimacy, sometimes being seen as a non-serious pursuit in educational terms compared to other subjects within the school curriculum. This book represents the first attempt in nearly 30 years to offer a coherent philosophical defence and conceptualisation of physical education and sport as subjects of educational value, and to provide a philosophically sound justification for their inclusion in the curriculum.

The book argues that rather than relegating the body to 'un-thinking' learning, a person's essential being is not confined to their rationality but involves an embodied dimension. It traces the changing conceptions of the body, in philosophy and theology, that have influenced our understanding of physical education and sport, and investigates the important role that embodiment and movement play in learning about, through and in physical education. Physical education is defended as a vital and necessary part of education because the whole person goes to school, not just the mind, but the thinking, feeling and acting facets of a person. It is argued that physical education has the potential to provide a multitude of experiences and opportunities for students' to become aware of their embodiment, explore alternative modes of awareness and to develop insights into and new modes of being not available elsewhere in the curriculum, and to influence moral character through the support of a moral community that is committed to that practice.

Representing a sophisticated and spirited defence of the educational significance and philosophical value of physical education and sport, this book will be fascinating reading for any advanced student or researcher with an interest in physical education, the philosophy of sport, or the philosophy of education.

About the Author
Steven A. Stolz, PhD is a lecturer in education from La Trobe University, Australia

Reviews

'PE students and researchers would gain value through reading it. Stolz presents a wealth of knowledge on the history of PE, its rival traditions and justifications, the problems of dualism and the value of embodied movement and learning. The text's polemic style also engages the reader and forces one to question his or her own philosophy of PE.'

• Richard Pringle (2015) The Philosophy of Physical Education: A New Perspective - Sport, Education and Society, 20:2, 279-282, DOI: 10.1080/13573322.2014.974730

'This is a stimulating book, posing important questions, and hopefully one that will help to clarify exactly what can and should be expected from physical education, and indeed what sort of legacy such events as the Olympics can offer to the educational system.'

• Andrew Edgar (2015) The philosophy of physical education: a new perspective - British Journal of Educational Studies, 63:1, 107-108, DOI: 10.1080/00071005.2015.1006951

'Few people can lay claim to the creation of a "new tradition", but one-time secondary teacher and current university lecturer Dr Steven Stolz has done just that.'

• Helen Vines (2014) The philosophy of physical education: a new perspective - Australian Educator, Issue 83

'Philosophical work dealing with physical education "has been clearly dwarfed by the work devoted to [philosophy of] sport". Thus, philosophy of physical education has fallen out of fashion, with psychological, sociological and/or postmodernist perspectives dominating research and theorizing about physical education. Stolz' book on the subject is therefore an important publication.'

'The merit of the book is...that it gives new readers a comprehensive overview of the main sources dealing with questions concerning justification of physical education's place in educational institutions.'

• Oyvind Forland Standal (2014) The philosophy of physical education: a new perspective - idrottsforum.org, Issue 83 - http://idrottsforum.org/staoyv_stolz150116/

Book Information
ISBN 9781138641297
Author Steven Stolz
Format Paperback
Page Count 212
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 317g