Philosophical Research:

“What is this mumbo, jumbo

stuff?”
 What most people think:

Poorly understood and not

highly valued….
 Why?

• Rise in empirical science

• onset of related doubts about
reflective, reason-based procedures
• lack of consensus among
contemporary philosophers about
proper research goals and strategies
Yet,

Recognition for the need of

reflective, philosophical
insights related to movement
activity, teacher education
practices, and so forth may be
growing...
Philosophy: The “Mother of
all Sciences”
Philosophic and empirical can
be complimentary….
 Fundamental goal:

• Examine reality by using reflective

procedures
• can address questions empiricists
cannot
 Empirical science:

• Approach the phenomenon by

looking through microscopes at
muscle tissue, collecting respiratory
or blood pressure data, by employing
statistical procedures to determine
strengths of possible causal
relationships.
 Philosophers:

• Reflect on education practices,

counseling practices, recreation, and
exercise and uses such things as
ideas and ideals, meanings, lived
experience, values, logical
relationships, and reasons in
attempting to shed some light on it.
 Scope of questioning
• Empiricists: gather • Philosophers:
all information and questions still
data possible on remain… Why
exercise & health... should we
exercise?
• To live longer?
• To live better?
• Both?
 For education:
• Empiricists: gather • Philosophers:
all information and questions still
data possible on remain…
teaching methods, • Who should be
learning strategies, taught?
outcomes. • What should they
be taught?
• Who should teach?
 Philosophers:

• Nothing lies outside realm of

legitimate inquiry
• Integrates, questions, investigates
• Is never satisfied….
• Which is more important? To live
longer or quality of life?
• How do we determine quality of life?

• Which is more important? To teach for

content or life long learning?
• How do we determine life long
learning?
 Philosophic needed
because:
Empirical research is
incomplete….

For example:
A better empirical understanding
of various physiological
mechanisms, coupled with more
sophisticated information on
exercise as a physiological
stressor helps us predict and
control outcomes of an active
lifestyle.
But because of human
condition:

Human exercise is
complex event.

relationship is tenuous at
best:
 But, what is it Doc?

“The deliberate and rational

attempt to understand both the
whole and parts of one’s
experience in both the
subjective and objective to form
a more perfect life.” Tillich
Branches of Philosophy:

Metaphysics
Axiology
Epistemology
Logics
 Metaphysical

• The study of the nature of reality

– Why does man play?
– What should we teach?
– Who should teach?
– What is exercise science, physical
education, kinesiology?
– What is competition?
 Epistemology

• The study of the origin, nature,

methods , and limits of knowledge
– How do we know?
– What do we know?
– How do we know that what we know is
what we know?
– How do we learn through education,
through sport, through play?
 Axiology

• The study of values: Aesthetics &

ethics
– What do we value?
– What is beautiful? Ugly?
– Why do we cheat?
– What is of value of education?
– What is of value of exercise & fitness?
 Logics

• The study of the nature of of exact

thought
– seldom studied in the sport world but
methods are used in analysis
– induction: particulars to general
– deduction: general to particular
– syllogism: if p = q & q =r then p = r.
 Examples of Schools of
Philosophy:

• Idealism: world of the mind

• Realism: world of nature & science
• Pragmatism: world of experience
• Existentialism: world of existing
 Methodologies

• Speculation {the most difficult}

– ponders
• Normative: systematic, coherent
plan--stated position
• Analytical: analyze, clarify, linguistic
analysis--does not take sides.