The Value of Sport

Some basic value distinctions

• apply to wealth
• apply to injury

What is the value of games/sport?

• Hurka's view (read p. 217)
• Suits's definition (reduced to 3 elements)
• Because of the obstacles, sports are difficult 
• Difficulty adds to life
• Sports and the 5 distinctions--what is he saying?

But why do sports, as difficult activities, add to life?

#1 The achievement argument

1.      Sports are difficult activities

2.    Doing difficult things is an achievement.

3.    Achievement adds to personal well-being.  
     THEREFORE,

4.    Sports add to personal well-being.

Why does achievement add to personal well-being?

#2 The Experience Machine argument

1.   Life is bad in the experience machine.

2. So specific life goods must be missing in the experience machine.

3.   One thing missing is “rational connection to reality”

4.   Achievement in sports gives you connection to reality. 
     THEREFORE,

5.   Achievement in sports is a life good.

#3 Which sports add the most to life?

• High difficulty vs. low difficulty
• Rock, paper, scissors
• Surfing in winter in Iceland

#4  Which sports add most to life?

• Compare types of knowledge
• Jeopardy knowledge

• Medical knowledge--hierarchical integration 

• What's the sports equivalent of Jeopardy knowledge? Example?
• What's the sports equivalent of medical knowledge? Example?
• What does he say about weight lifting and boxing?

Endnotes

1. Here's what an ESPN panel of experts said about the difficulty of various sports.
2. The Aaron Hernandez documentary is on Netflix.  
3. Under an Arctic Sky is the documentary about skiing in Iceland.