ABSTRACT
My principal thesis in this chapter is in two parts. The first is one from which, in its weakest form, few engaged with philosophy of sport would want to dissent: namely, that one cannot, typically, find concepts or ideas ‘ready to hand’ in general philosophy to apply straightforwardly to the philosophy of sport. Of course, there may sometimes be such concepts or ideas in a developed state that – mirabile dictu – fit the bill, but we should neither expect this nor be surprised not to find it. Then, the stronger form of the thesis applies this idea to a specific case where – it seems to me – precisely this attitude of having found a ‘ready-to-hand’ idea is deployed: namely, Alasdair MacIntyre’s account of practices. This part is my primary topic in this chapter.1
