Academic Scholars in Years 10 and 11 explore the philosophy of sport

A fun an interactive session for our Academic Scholars

“Voluntarily using inefficient means to accomplish unnecessary objectives”. What might this be a definition of?

The answer, of course, is sport, or at least according to Bernard Suits, the foremost philosopher of sport in his book, The Grasshopper – Games, Life and Utopia. He’s certainly right in saying there are more efficient methods of getting a ball into a small hole hundreds of yards away than using a golf club!

Academic Scholars in Years 10 and 11 yesterday explored the philosophy of sport in their latest extension lesson with Adam Stark, Head of Philosophy, Religion & Ethics. The aim of the lesson was to attempt to define what sport is and how it could help us to live a ‘good life’.

Suits suggests that in Utopia, with everyone’s desires fulfilled, sport might be the only activity, where obstacles are constructed simply in order to be overcome and therefore give meaning to life.

But what comprises a ‘good life’? Students were asked to discuss what obstacles they will attempt to overcome in the next few years, and what attributes they would need to do this – perseverance, patience, resilience, sacrifice etc.

Adam went on to explain how sport can provide a model for our understanding of the ‘the good life’. “What gives life (and sport) meaning is how we achieve our goals, more than that we achieve our goals,” said Adam.

Adam said: "I'm excited to be leading the Academic Scholarship & Oxbridge Programme at Seaford College this year. Our KS4 scholars’ curiosity and critical thinking made the first session such a joy — a brilliant start to what promises to be a fantastic year ahead."

For more information on our Academic Scholarships please follow the link: SCHOLARSHIPS