The Philosophical Journey of Scott Kretchmar
Exploring How Sport and Physical Activity Mean
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22456/1982-8918.143363Keywords:
Sport, Ethics, Sport Philosophy, PlayAbstract
Scott Kretchmar is a foundational figure in the philosophy of sport. His influential work began with his first peer-reviewed article in 1972, and his scholarly contributions remain significant, even in retirement. In 1989, he became one of the first philosophers of sport inducted into the National Academy of Kinesiology of the United States, and his career reached a pinnacle with the Clark W. Hetherington Award in 2021. In this article, we first trace his academic and professional trajectory. Then, we overview his main scholarly contributions, categorizing them into four core sets of interrelated research preoccupations: (a) the metaphysics of play, games, sport, and competition; (b) the role of physical education; (c) the ethics of sport; and (d) the meaning-making and spiritual aspects of sport. Though not exhaustive, our analysis highlights Kretchmar’s pivotal role in establishing and expanding the philosophy of sport, underscoring his enduring impact.Downloads
References
FRALEIGH, Warren P. Right actions in sport: ethics for contestants. Champaign: Human Kinetics Publishers, 1984.
GEERTZ, Clifford. Available light: anthropological reflections on philosophical topics. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2000.
HARDMAN, Alun R. Practical philosophy of sport and physical activity, 2nd ed. By R. Scott Kretchmar. Published 2005 by Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, v. 34, n. 1, p. 97–99, 2007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00948705.2007.9714713
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. A phenomenological analysis of the Other in sport. 1971. Dissertation (Master in Philosophy) – University of Southern California, 1971.
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Ontological possibilities: sport as play. Philosophic Exchange, v. 3, n. 1, p. 113–122, 1972. Available at: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/233573485.pdf. Accessed on: Sept. 4, 2024.
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. From test to contest: an analysis of two kinds of counterpoint in sport. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, v. 2, n. 1, p. 23–30, 1975. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00948705.1975.10654094
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Ethics and sport: An overview. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, v. 10, n. 1, p. 21–32, 1983. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00948705.1983.9714398
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. The strange supremacy of knowledge in sport from the moral point of view: a response to Fraleigh. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, v. 13, n. 1, p. 79–88, 1986. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00948705.1986.9714443
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Toward a stronger position for physical education in higher education: three recommendations. Quest, v. 40, n. 1, p. 47–55, 1988. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.1988.10483886
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. On beautiful games. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, v. 16, n. 1, p. 34–43, 1989. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00948705.1989.9714467
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Practical philosophy of sport and physical activity. Champaign: Human Kinetics, 1994.
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Philosophy of sport. In: MASSENGALE, John; SWANSON, Richard (ed.). The history of exercise and sport science. Champaign: Human Kinetics, 1997. p. 181–202.
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Movement subcultures: sites for meaning. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, v. 71, n. 5, p. 19–25, 2000. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2000.10605140
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Walking Barry Bonds: The ethics of the intentional walk. In: GREENE, E. Richard; VERNEZZE, Peter (ed.). Baseball and philosophy: thinking outside the batter’s box. Chicago: Open Court, 2004. p. 261–272.
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Game flaws. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, v. 1, p. 36–48, 2005a. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00948705.2005.9714669
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Practical philosophy of sport and physical activity. 2. ed. Champaign: Human Kinetics, 2005b.
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Ten more reasons for quality physical education. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, v. 77, n. 9, p. 6–9, 2006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2006.10597932
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. What to do with meaning? A research conundrum for the 21st century. Quest, v. 59, n. 4, p. 373–383, 2007. DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2007.10483559
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. The increasing utility of elementary school physical education: a mixed blessing and unique challenge. The Elementary School Journal, v. 108, n. 3, p. 161–170, 2008a. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/529099
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. The utility of silos and bunkers in the evolution of kinesiology. Quest, v. 60, n. 1, p. 3–12, 2008b. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2008.10483564
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Should philosophy of sport matter more? Physical Culture and Sport. Studies and Research, v. 49, n. 1, p. 5–12, 2010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10141-010-0013-1
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Why dichotomies make it difficult to see games as gifts of God. In: PARRY, Jim; NESTI, Mark; WATSON, Nick J. (ed.). Theology, ethics and transcendence in sports. Londres: Routledge, 2011. p. 185–200.
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. C. H. McCloy Lecture: symbols, conventions, games, Eleanor Metheny, and the evolution of human intelligence. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, v. 84, n. 2, p. 131–138, 2013a. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2013.787345
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Hard-won sporting achievements and spiritual humility: Are they compatible? In: WATSON, Nick J.; PARKER, Andrew (ed.). Sports and Christianity: Historical and contemporary perspectives. Londres: Routledge, 2013b. p. 269–286.
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. “A Games” and their relationship to T and E games. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, v. 9, n. 1, p. 47–57, 2015a. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2015.1020853
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Pluralistic internalism. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, v. 42, n. 1, p. 83–100, 2015b. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00948705.2014.911101
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Simon on realism, fallibilism, and the power of reason. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, v. 43, n. 1, p. 41–49, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00948705.2015.1112237
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Games and fiction: partners in the evolution of culture. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, v. 11, n. 1, p. 12–25, 2017a. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2017.1294554
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Sport, fiction, and the stories they tell. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, v. 44, n. 1, p. 55–71, 2017b. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00948705.2016.1277949
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. The ethics of flopping. In: LUMPKIN, Angela (ed.). Modern sport ethics: a reference handbook. 2. ed. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2017c. p. 145–148.
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Gateways to culture: Play, games, metaphors, and institutions. Journal of Cognition and Culture, v. 18, n. 1–2, p. 47–65, 2018a. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/15685373-12340023
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Homo forte: A philosophical tribute to muscle. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, v. 12, n. 4, p. 375–385, 2018b. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2018.1493529
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Human evolution, movement, and intelligence: why playing games counts as smart. Quest, v. 70, n. 1, p. 1–11, 2018c. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2017.1359636
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Amazement, gratitude and humility. National Academy of Kinesiology, v. 43, n. 2, p. 30–32, 2021a.
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott. Large questions, small questions, and leaky ones too. Kinesiology Review, v. 10, n. 2, p. 111–118, 2021b. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/kr.2020-0060.
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott.; TORRES, Cesar R. Challenges, achievements, and uncertainties: the philosophy of sport since the 1980s. Kinesiology Review, v. 10, n. 3, p. 283–291, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/kr.2021-0012
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott; WHITE, John. A special issue on sport and spirituality. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, v. 12, n. 1, p. 1–3, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2017.1414869
KRETCHMAR, R. Scott.; WATSON, Nick J. Chesterton on play, work, paradox, and Christian orthodoxy. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, v. 12, n. 1, p. 70–80, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2017.1291713
METHENY, Eleanor. How does a movement mean? Quest, v. 8, n. 1, p. 1–6, 1967. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.1967.10519630
METHENY, Eleanor. Movement and meaning. Nova Iorque: McGraw-Hill, 1968.
OSTERHOUDT, Robert G. Introduction. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, v. 1, p. 1–15, 1974.
SIMON, Robert L.; TORRES, Cesar R.; HAGER, Peter F. Fair play: the ethics of sport. Boulder: Westview, 2014.
SUITS, Bernard. What is a game? Philosophy of Science, v. 34, n. 2, p. 148–156, 1967.
TORRES, Cesar R. Introduction. In: TORRES, Cesar R. (ed.). Bloomsbury companion to the philosophy of sport. Londres: Bloomsbury, 2014. p. 1–14.
TORRES, Cesar R. R. Scott Kretchmar. In: Sport Studies. Routledge Resources Online. Routledge. (In press).
VAN DE MARS, H.; TORRES, Cesar R.; WIGGINS, D. K. Letter from Hans Van de Mars, Cesar R. Torres and David K. Wiggins to Lynda Ransdell. Cesar R. Torres Archives, 2021.
ZEIGLER, Earle F. History and status of American physical education and educational sport. Victoria: Trafford Publishing, 2005.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Movimento
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Movimento adopts the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for approved and published works. This means that authors:
- keep their copyrights and grant right of first publication to the journal; and
- as long as the authors’ names and Movimento’s initial publication rights are acknowledged, the authors may share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially).
More information at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
