Abstract
The purpose of this research is to articulate how a theory of causation might be serviceable to a theory of sport. This article makes conceptual links between Bernard Suits’ theory of game-playing, causation, and theories of causation. It justifies theories of causation while drawing on connections between sport and counterfactuals. It articulates the value of theories of causation while emphasizing possible limitations. A singularist theory of causation is found to be more broadly serviceable with particular regard to its analysis of sports.
Highlights
Stephen Mumford states, “Causation is what connects distinct phenomena. [David] Hume . . .called it the cement of the universe . . . . [and] in sport, it is the absolutely vital metaphysical notion for without causation there could be no sport.” [1]
Two related questions will be answered: (1) What kind of theory of causation might be unifying in sport? (2) How would a theory of causation help to provide a theory of sport? This article answers the latter questions using Bernard
Why is the notion of a prelusory goal associated with causation? There is a link between Suits’
Summary
Stephen Mumford states, “Causation is what connects distinct phenomena. [David] Hume. “What is this metaphysical glue, which seems to bind one kind of event reliably with another and provides us with a basis for action?” [1]. Theories of causation are attempts to account for the basis. Two related questions will be answered: (1) What kind of theory of causation might be unifying in sport? This article answers the latter questions using Bernard. Suits’ definition of game-playing [2] and David Lewis’ theory of causation1 [6]. This article concludes that Lewis’ theory is more broadly serviceable in answering these questions and that it offers valuable metaphysical import more generally. Lewis’ approach belongs to a cluster of related theories known as difference-making approaches to the conceptual analysis of causation.
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