ABSTRACT

Nature sports such as skiing, climbing, and surfing have had a significant influence on Western popular culture since the mid-twentieth century and participation in such sports continues to grow. Written in a clear and accessible style, this important book provides a comprehensive philosophical analysis of nature sports.

Philosophy and Nature Sports offers an engaging inquiry into how nature sports differ from mainstream sports, how these differences are related to their value as human activities, and the role of the environments in which such sports take place. Addressing the claim that the most distinctive feature of nature sports is the relationship between participants and the natural world, the book also examines a wide range of topics, such as ethics, risk, gender construction, the social role of nature sport subcultures and the aesthetic experiences of nature sports athletes. Tying these together is the question of what it is that attracts us to nature sports and why they hold meaning for us. 

This is a valuable resource for students and academics in fields such as alternative sports, alternative sport subcultures, sport philosophy, sport and social issues, ethics, and phenomenology. It is also a fascinating read for outdoor educators and practitioners.

chapter |4 pages

Introduction

chapter Chapter 1|17 pages

What are nature sports? 1

chapter Chapter 2|28 pages

The nature of nature sports

chapter Chapter 3|20 pages

Categorizing nature sports

chapter Chapter 4|20 pages

Nature sports, intensity, and the sublime

chapter Chapter 5|24 pages

Ski bums, surf bums, climbing bums

Philosophical issues in the sport bum lifestyle

chapter Chapter 6|16 pages

Constructing gender in nature sports

chapter Chapter 7|17 pages

Reflections on risk

chapter Chapter 8|16 pages

Aesthetic experience in nature sports

chapter |5 pages

Conclusion