What Goals? Which Point? Whose Purpose? A Critical Engagement with Sport Internalism
Abstract
In this article, I critique the dominance of internalism in sport philosophy and outline an alternative theoretical framework that integrates internal and external elements while striving to transcend the dichotomous language used to conceptualize sport. The analysis begins by claiming that internalism conflates three fundamental teleological aspects of sport: goals, point, and purposes. I argue that this conflation limits internalism’s ability to explain the complexity of sporting practices. By carefully distinguishing these elements, I illustrate their distinct roles in shaping sport and explore how they interact. I conclude by proposing that the alternative pluralist framework briefly sketched here enables a more comprehensive understanding of sport.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Doping in Sports
Sports
Gender
and Society
Adventure Sports and Sensation Seeking
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Philosophies
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 16–16
- Publication date
- 4 February 2026
- Language
- EN