Sport as part of a meaningful life

Abstract

My purpose in this article is to raise the problem of meaning in sport. The problem has two aspects. One is whether sport has any meaning in itself. The other is about how sport can be a part of a meaningful life. While I touch upon the first problem, my discussion's main thrust is about the second aspect. I start with clarifying the notion of ‘meaning’, the possible sources of meaning, and the idea of ‘leading a meaningful life’. I distinguish between two views, the existentialist notion of meaning as created and the metaphysical view that meaning is something we find. I then look at the relation between meaning and value. I argue that while value is characterized by showing an internal unity in complexity, meaning is characterized by connecting elements into a pattern with a goal. I then ask if meaning can stand on its own legs and how value can ground meaning? I then show how people can integrate sports in their lives to lead more well-balanced and meaningful lives. I end by discussing some parallels between the debate about meaning in sport and the discussion of the moral character of sport.