Philosophy of Sport

Abstract

This bachelor thesis is concerned with physical activities in ancient Greece, specifically in time of philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Emphasis is put on presenting a broad historical framework, especially because physical activities were closely connected with other areas of human life, namely with religious cult and philosophical questioning. It is the relationship between sport and philosophy which has the major attention. The main task of this thesis consists in presenting physical activities as the important part of the competitive culture in ancient Greece. Described, explained, and compared are fundamental principles and ideals of ancient Greek sport. Special attention is given to its role in educational process. In this sense, physical activities are presented as a suitable instrument for both physical and mental formation of man. Through bodily exercises, individuals were able to achieve higher dimensions of reality, acquire certain virtues, and consequently realize their own potential. Because of these and many other reasons, physical activities in ancient Greece can be a valuable source of inspiration also for people of today. This thesis tries to present them exactly in this way