体育的起源(The Origin of Sports)

详细内容

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whendidsportbegin?ifsportis,inessence,play,theclaimmightbemadethatsportismucholderthanhumankind,for,asweallhaveobserved,thebeastsplay.dogsandcatswrestleandplayballgames.

fishesandbirdsdance.theapeshavesimple,pleasurablegames.frolickinginfants,schoolchildrenplayingtag,andadultarmwrestlersaredemonstratingstrong,transgenerationalandtransspeciesbondswiththeuniverseofanimals-past,present,andfuture.

younganimals,particularly,tumble,chase,runwrestle,mock,imitate,andlaugh(orsoitseems)tothepointofdelightedexhaustion.theirplay,andours,appearstoservenootherpurposethantogivepleasuretotheplayers,andapparently,toremoveustemporarilyfromtheanguishoflifeinearnest.

somephilosophershaveclaimedthatourplayfulnessisthemostnoblepartofourbasiature.intheirgenerousconceptions,playharmlesslyandexperimentallypermitsustoputourcreativeforces,fantasy,andimaginationintoaction.

playisreleasefromthetediousbattlesagainstscarcityanddeclinewhicharetheincessant,andinevitable,tragediesoflife.thisisagrandconceptionthatexcitesandprovokes.theholdersofthisviewclaimthattheoriginsofourhighestaomplishments----liturgy,literature,andlaw----canbetracedtoaplayimpulsewhich,paradoxically,weseemostpurelyenjoyedbyyoungbeastsandchildren.

oursports,inthisratherhappy,nonfatalisticviewofhumannature,aremoresplendidcreationsofthenondatable,transspeciesplayimpulse.