Emotion in Sports

This book starts from the premise that 'we are all configurations of repressed emotions'. This is especially clear in sports. Investigating sport-specific emotions such as catharsis, power, and joy, Tuncel offers a ground-breaking theory for understanding these emotions and their value for sports philosophically, while also examining critically therapeutic interventions addressing emotional problems in sport. In so doing, Tuncel makes a much-needed contribution to current debates on the spirit and value of sports. He further helps the philosophy of sport move forward by introducing, amongst others, Spinoza's affect theory and Nietzsche's theory of power in those debates. A great book for all philosophers of sport, interested in the role of emotions in sport!

M.S. Prange, Full Professor in Philosophy of Humanity, Culture and Society at Tilburg University, Tilburg School of Humanities, The Netherlands.

Sport is about action and bodily performance, but it is certainly also about emotions. Yunus Tuncel’s new book is the first book that treats the full range of emotions in sport from a philosophical as well as psychological perspective. Building on theoretical frameworks from Aristotle, Spinoza, Hume and Nietzsche he gives us a wonderful exposition of the importance and role of the wide variety of sport-specific emotions. A very impressive piece of work!

Gunnar Breivik, Professor of Social Sciences and former Rector at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Norway.