Football and Philosophy: Going Deep (The Philosophy of Popular Culture) [Hardcover]

Michael W. Austin (Author), Joe Posnanski (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2008 | Series: The Philosophy of Popular Culture

Over the past forty years, football has surpassed baseball as America's favorite game. The game has become an institution of our national culture: the Super Bowl is regarded as an unofficial national holiday, and our annual Thanksgiving Day celebrations would be incomplete without it. The sport brings in massive amounts of revenue to high schools and both public and private universities as spectators enjoy a unique and celebratory social scene. Professional football teams across the country cultivate and foster a sense of community in urban areas. Surely a game this influential, with its hallowed traditions, treasured festivities, and clearly defined cultural presence, resonates far beyond recreational importance. Football and Philosophy: Going Deep, edited by Michael W. Austin, reveals how a sport followed by millions reflects our deeper values, beliefs, and priorities. Austin and other contributing writers bring unique perspectives to this thought-provoking collection of essays. Divided into "four quarters" of reflective writing, the book covers many topics frequently debated by football fans. Sharon Ryan asks "What's So Bad about Performance Enhancing Drugs?", while the book's editor argues for a playoff system in college football. Daniel Collins-Cavanaugh ponders whether the salary cap makes the NFL a fairer league, and Joshua Smith offers his own review of the instant replay. Football and Philosophy also forays into some time honored issues as it considers the philosophy of winning in light of the NFL's most legendary coach, Vince Lombardi, and contemplates the concepts of sportsmanship, virtue, friendship, and failure. While the book is unafraid to tackle serious topics, touching on ethics, religion, and the nature of reality itself, the collection is designed to be accessible for any interested reader and was written, first and foremost, for fans of the game. As Austin notes, football fans and philosophers definitely have one quality in common: they both love to argue. Football and Philosophy engages in the debates of both groups, illuminating how the fields are intertwined. So whether they love or hate the college bowl system or disagree on whether the NFL has an ego problem, readers of this book will undoubtedly find much to ponder about America's favorite game.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Vince Lombardi—who relished his undergraduate studies in philosophy—would have loved this book. Where else can a reader find Lombardi’s own winning-is-everything approach to the gridiron assessed against the doctrines of Nietzsche and Marx? Where else will a defensive end blindsiding a quarterback prompt Kantian reflections on ethics? And where else does Augustine’s vision of “rightly ordered love” inform a critique of the civil religion practiced in American football stadiums? The 19 contributors to this engaging volume bring strong academic credentials to their diverse analyses. But it is their intense love of the sport that will attract most readers. Typical football fans may pause before taking Epictetus or Aristotle as a guide to their favorite game. However, the insights here developed on the justice of a playoff system for college football, on the problems created by instant replay, and on the right criteria for selecting an MVP will make this a valuable book for anyone who engages in arguments about sports with a Lombardi-like desire to win. --Bryce Christensen

Review

""Austin and his fellow contributors give new meaning to the phrase 'going deep.' Fans will enjoy this lively and thought-provoking collection." "explores philosophical themes and ideas." --Gregory Bassham" --

""This is a brilliant collection of essays, engaging in philosophical reflection on issues and arguments that arise in American football. The essays are insightful and informative, as well as provocative and entertaining. A deeply satisfying read." -- Charles Taliaferro, author of Consciousness and the Mind of God" --

""The authors apply philosophical thinking to some current issues in football -- whether winning is "the only thing," whether we should have a playoff system in college football, whether instant replay is a good idea, whether using steroids is cheating..." --Books & Culture" --

""Football and Philosophy forays into some time honored issues as it considers the philosophy of winning in light of the NFL's most legendary coach, Vince Lombardi, and contemplates the concepts of sportsmanship, virtue, friendship, and failure. While the book is unafraid to tackle serious topics, toughing on ethics, religion, and the nature of reality itself, the collection is designed to be accessible for any interested reader and was written, first and foremost, for fans of the game." --GreatLiteraryWorks.com" --

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky; 1 edition (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813124956
• ISBN-13: 978-0813124957
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,760,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not enough good essays, July 27, 2008

By 

J. Davis (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Football and Philosophy: Going Deep (The Philosophy of Popular Culture) (Hardcover)

There were two terrific essays in this book: one about the college playoff system and one about the effect of the NFL salary cap on competition. The rest of the essays were nothing special.