Spring Intensives 2024

In Knowing the Score, philosopher David Papineau uses sports to illuminate some of modern philosophy's most perplexing questions. As Papineau demonstrates, the study of sports clarifies, challenges, and sometimes confuses crucial issues in philosophy including race and gender.

In 1968, sociologist Harry Edwards proposed boycotting the Olympic Games in Mexico City to protest racial discrimination. Although the boycott didn't happen, it inspired athletes like Tommie Smith and John Carlos to protest by raising black-gloved fists on the podium. "Sidelined" explores the black athletic revolt's use of sports for civil rights in the late 1960s. Drawing on historical materials and over forty oral histories, author Simon Henderson challenges the perception that sports reinforced the status quo. He sheds light on activists' efforts to promote racial equality on a global stage, giving voice to those who fought for civil rights in sports and society.

In their compelling book, Eileen McDonagh and Laura Pappano challenge the unfair exclusion of women from sports on an equal footing with men. Highlighting numerous examples of women excelling in traditionally male-dominated sports, they argue that sex differences are not sufficient grounds for exclusion. The authors expose how sex segregation in sports actively constructs and reinforces stereotypes, masking women's strengths in some cases. By questioning societal assumptions and advocating for equal opportunities, McDonagh and Pappano make a forceful case for redefining success in American sports