Philosophy and Kinesiology: A Tenuous Past and an Uncertain Future

This essay addresses four main questions. The first is devoted to how I became interested in the philosophy of sport. The second question concerns how my academic career has evolved over time in line with various developments in the field that privileged certain lines of study over others and which largely marginalized philosophy in particular and the humanities in general. The third question centers on what I take to be my own main contributions to the philosophy of sport and what, if any, impact they may have had on the larger field of kinesiology. Finally, I offer my own brief prognosis of what I think the future has in store for the relationship between sport philosophy and kinesiology.

The Ethics of Cloning Horses in Polo

The ethics of using genetic engineering to enhance athletic performance has been a recurring topic in the sport philosophy and bioethics literature. In this article, we analyze the ethics of cloning horses for polo competition. In doing so, we critically examine the arguments most commonly advanced to justify this practice. In the process, we raise concerns about cloning horses for polo competition, centering on normative aspects pertaining to sport ethics usually neglected by defenders of cloning. In particular, we focus on (1) how this practice could have a detrimental impact on the central skills of polo, and (2) how it unjustly creates an uneven playing field. We suggest that the polo community would benefit from critically considering the ethical quandaries posed by the practice of cloning horses for polo competition.

The coach’s role in shaping the attitudes and values of a competitor in Poland after World War II on the example of Wunderteam

The purpose of this publication is to present the concept of sport philosophy, implemented on the basis of certain values between individuals and trainers – Jan Mulak and the Wunderteam - in historically and politically challenging conditions. The article shows certain values, which were headed via outstanding individual cooperation with other great personalities from the world of sports in a way to fulfill a masterpiece – the Wunderteam. The project of creating Polish athletics team was not a programme of self-improvement of outstanding individuals, but was joint international work, which was to serve the Polish society. That concept of genius of Jan Mulak as a coordinator, and his cooperators, initiated huge progress in Polish sports.