kines 100 segment 2 final

What does the word 'philosophy' mean?

Philosophy means love of wisdom.

"Philo" = love
"Sophia" = wisdom

What are two key aspects of philosophy as an activity?

Critical thinking—questioning assumptions, looking deeper.

Clarification of concepts—defining what things really mean.

What does philosophy study, and how is it different from other fields?

Philosophy studies:

Meaning

Values,

Concepts,

Assumptions

What makes a good life,

What is right/wrong

Difference:

Science explains “what is.”

Philosophy analyzes “what it means” and “what we should do.”

When did physical education begin to pivot toward more of a scientific focus? Who was a key figure in pushing for this fundamental change in focus, and why did this person push for such a change?

The pivot began in the early to mid 20th century due to reformers like Thomas Cureton pushing PE toward physiology and measurement.

What are the advantages of a scientific focus in physical education?

More legitimacy, objective measurement, better tools for health, and improved training methods.

What are the disadvantages of a scientific focus in physical education?

Lost focus on meaning and human experience, treated people like machines, and reduced play, joy, and culture.

What is the key methodological difference between science and philosophy?

Science uses empirical methods → experiments, measurement.

Philosophy uses conceptual analysis → arguments, definitions, thought experiments.

What are four key tools philosophy provides to kinesiology?

1. Clarifying concepts (e.g., What is “exercise”? What is “play”?)

2. Critical thinking (challenging assumptions)

3. Ethical reasoning (what should we do?)

4. Meaning-making (why movement matters)

What is determinism?

Determinism is the belief that human behavior is completely caused by prior conditions.

What is reductionism?

Reductionism is explaining complex things by breaking them into their smallest parts. (e.g., reducing sport to calories burned)

What is the difference between understanding and explaining?

Explaining is scientific cause/effect, while understanding is about meaning, purpose, and lived experience.

What are exotelic activities?

Exotelic = done for a goal outside itself (exercise to lose weight).

What are autotelic activities?

Autotelic activities are done for their own sake. (exercise because it's fun).

What is the key distinction between these two types of activities (Exotelic vs Autotelic activities)?

Exotelic activities are done for an external outcome or reward. The activity is a means to an end.

Autotelic activities are done for their own sake. The activity itself is rewarding and enjoyable, regardless of any external result.

What is an intrinsic motivation? What is an extrinsic motivation? What is the key distinction between these two types of motivations?

Intrinsic = doing it because you enjoy it.

Extrinsic = doing it for a reward or outcome.

Key distinction: pleasure in activity vs external reward.

Would we consider work an exotelic or autotelic activity?

Work usually exotelic → done for external rewards (money, survival).

What is the difference between dutiful and meaningful work?

Dutiful work is necessary and obligatory, while meaningful work feels valuable and fulfilling.

What does Johan Huizinga identify as key aspects of play?

Play is voluntary, outside ordinary life, has rules, creates special meaning, and is absorbing.

What aspects of Huizinga's philosophy does Bernard Suits agree with? What additional idea does he introduce into how we define play?

Suits agrees with Huizinga, AND adds:

👉 Play = the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles.

What are common misconceptions about work and play?

Work = bad, play = childish
Play = wasted time
Work = automatically meaningful (Bigalke debunks all of these.)

Under what area of philosophy do dualist and holist explanations of the body fall?
a) What is dualism? What is a dualist explanation of the body?
i. Which philosopher first advanced the idea of dualism?
b) What is holism? What is a holist explanation of the body?
c) Thinking back to our discussions on work and play, how would each of these belief systems relate to exercise?

Metaphysics (what humans are).

a) Dualism is the belief that mind and body are separate.

Philosopher: René Descartes.

b) Holism is Mind + body = one integrated whole.

c) Exercise application:

Dualist: sees exercise as training the body only.

Holist: sees exercise as shaping whole person (mind + body).

What is holism in philosophy?

Holism is the belief that mind and body are one integrated whole.

What is phenomenology?
a. Is phenomenology a dualist or holist framework?
b. What are key aspects of a phenomenological perspective?

Phenomenology is the study of lived experience and how things feel from the inside.

a. Dualist or holist? → Holist

b. Key aspects:

Embodied experience

First-person perspective

Meaning arises from doing

Considering the Loland article, would a dualist or a holist be more likely to embrace the idea of an "exercise pill" as a replacement for physical activity?

👉 Dualist more likely to accept a pill (body = machine).👉 Holist rejects it because movement expresses identity & meaning.

How is meaning constructed?
a. What are denotative identities?
b. What are connotative identities? What are the distinctions between personal connotations and shared connotations?

Meaning is constructed through a combination of denotation and connotation.

a. Denotative identities

Literal definition (e.g., “running = moving fast on foot”).

b. Connotative identities

Emotional, cultural associations (e.g., running = freedom).

Personal connotations = individual meaning

Shared connotations = cultural meaning

What is the difference between understanding and caring?

Understanding = you intellectually know something.

Caring = you emotionally value it.

Meaningful movement requires both.

What are the three traditional approaches to meaningful movement?

1. Knowledge-based (understanding technique)

2. Social/ethical (relationships, community)

3. Aesthetic/experiential (beauty, joy)

What does Kretchmar mean when he discusses the idea of meaning as "transporation"?

Transportation refers to a meaningful activity that carries you away emotionally.

You become absorbed, lose track of time, feel a deeper identity.

What is a movement subculture?

A movement subculture is a group united by a shared movement practice, values, rituals, and identity.
(e.g., surfers, dancers, runners).

What methods does Kretchmar identify for promoting more meaningful engagement with movement?

Build community, encourage skill mastery, tell stories, create rituals, and celebrate culture.

What is gamification?
How can it inform how kinesiologists engage with the people they study?

Gamification is adding game elements to exercise to make it more meaningful and motivating.

What is utilitarianism?
a. Under which area of philosophy does this system fall?
b. What is the primary responsibility of utilitarianism?
c. What are some key issues with utilitarianism?

Utilitarianism is a moral system that advocates choosing actions that produce the greatest good for the greatest number.

a. Area of philosophy: Ethics

b. Primary responsibility: Maximize total happiness / minimize harm

c. Key issues:

Ignores minorities

Difficult to measure happiness

Can justify harmful actions if majority benefits

What is autonomy?
a. What three conditions are necessary for a plan or action to be considered autonomous?
b. What is the distinction between freedom and autonomy?
c. What is negative autonomy?
d. What is positive autonomy?
e. What are controlling influences and how do they relate to affordances? When might controlling influences increase rather than decrease one's autonomy?

Autonomy is the ability to govern yourself and make your own choices.

a. Three conditions

Voluntary choice

With understanding

Without controlling influences

b. Freedom vs autonomy

Freedom = absence of restraint

Autonomy = ability + understanding + freedom

c. Negative autonomy

Freedom from external constraints.

d. Positive autonomy

Freedom to act, based on capabilities (education, safety). e. Controlling influences & affordances

Controlling influences reduce autonomy.

Affordances (opportunities) can increase autonomy (e.g., safe parks, equipment).

What is paternalism?
a. What is hard paternalism?
b. What is soft paternalism?

Paternalism is interfering with someone's freedom for their own good.

a. Hard paternalism

Interfering even when the person is informed & voluntary.

b. Soft paternalism

Interfering only when the person lacks understanding or the action is not truly voluntary.

What is a public health intervention?

A public health intervention is any policy designed to promote health and reduce harm. (e.g., seatbelt laws, soda taxes, bike lanes).

What is the difference between negative and positive autonomy?

Negative autonomy is freedom from interference, while positive autonomy is the ability to act meaningfully.

Make sure that you are clear on the concepts of autonomy and paternalism. This includes:
a. Negative and positive autonomy
b. Hard and soft paternalism

a. Negative autonomy: freedom from interference

Positive autonomy: ability to act meaningfully

b. Soft paternalism: justified when people lack information

Hard paternalism: restricting liberty even when choice is informed