Research

Some of My Publications

Sport Realism: A Law-Inspired Theory of Sport

In this monograph I defend a new theory of sport, which I term sport realism, to show how rules, traditions, and officiating decisions define the way sport is played. He argues that sport realism, broadly inspired by elements of legal realism, best explains how players, coaches, officials, and fans participate in sport. It accepts that decisions in sport will derive from a variety of reasons and influences, which are taken into account by participants who aim to predict how officials will make future rulings.

I then extend this theoretical work to normative topics, applying sport realist analysis to numerous philosophical debates and ethical dilemmas in sport. Later chapters include investigations into rules disputes, strategic fouls, replay, and makeup calls, with a chapter dedicated specifically to cheating in sport. I discuss numerous examples and case studies throughout the book to provide a wide-ranging and illuminating study of sport, ranging from professional sports to pick-up games.

"Power, Resentment, and Self-Preservation: Nietzsche's Moral Psychology as a Critique of Trump" co-authored with Eric Schaaf, in Trump and Political Philosophy: Patriotism, Cosmopolitanism, and Civic Virtue eds. Sable and Torres (2018): 257-280

"Nietzsche's Thumbscrew: Honesty as Virtue and Value Standard" in Journal of Nietzsche Studies 46:3 (2015): 367-390

Much has been made of the apparent tensions in Nietzsche’s ethical and metaethical views. In this paper I examine a kind of value standard available to Nietzsche that is present in his work. I offer an interpretation of honesty as both a Nietzschean virtue and a means of ethical assessment. Despite Nietzsche’s well-known criticisms of truth, he upholds honesty as the only remaining virtue of his free spirits. Honesty has been treated in the literature primarily in the contexts of truth or life affirmation, but I argue that we should instead recognize honesty as a virtue within the context of valuing. I defend honesty as a distinct kind of truthfulness and sincerity involving what I call confrontation. The seeds of Nietzsche’s mature view are first evident in his work on tragedy, then developed further in Zarathustra, ultimately revealing a constraint on valuing that is essential to Nietzsche’s broader normative projects.

"Playing, Valuing, and Living: Examining Nietzsche's Playful Response to Nihilism" in Journal of Value Inquiry 50:2 (2016): 305-323

Play is typically associated with carefree or frivolous activity, yet Nietzsche makes surprising claims about the nature of play. He insists that playfulness is the appropriate attitude for addressing the challenges of human life, and he describes maturity as the ability to play seriously like children. To understand Nietzsche's serious play, some have emphasized the affinity between play and fiction. Notably, Nadeem Hussain has offered a fictionalist interpretation, according to which nothing has value in itself and valuing resembles make-believe. I hold that illusions and fictions misconstrue Nietzsche's play and values. In this paper I argue that Nietzsche embraces play in the context of nihilism, which he considers the fundamental problem of modernity. Play ultimately proves central to Nietzsche's strategy to avert nihilism. I explicate his comments on play, and I use the features of play to illuminate Nietzsche's response to nihilism found in his enigmatic project of value creation. 

"'You're the Best Around': An Argument for Playoffs and Tournaments" in Journal of the Philosophy of Sport43:2 (2016): 295-309

Recent articles, including those by Dixon and Torres & Hager, criticize tournament playoffs, primarily for reasons of fairness and integrity. Many suggest that playoff and tournament prominence reflects monetary and entertainment interests rather than the pursuit of athletic excellence. Nevertheless, tournament playoffs are increasingly popular. While the concerns are serious, in this paper I defend the overlooked value of playoffs and tournaments. Playoff critics employ too narrow a conception of the best team and too limited a view of excellence. Rather, playoffs and seasons highlight distinct and valuable conceptions of athletic excellence. To better capture this, I consider two alternative championship formats: the hybrid system and championship pluralism. The hybrid system includes a playoff informed by the regular season. Despite its apparent advantages, I reject the hybrid approach. Instead, I propose championship pluralism as a preferred championship model.

"Reflections on the Presence of Play in University Arts and Athletics" in Reason Papers 38:1 (2016): 38-50