Sport and Play in a Digital World

This book explores the reality of new types of ‘digital sports’, such as gaming, cybersport and eSports, and how the virtual or the electronic takes over, contradicts or melts with current sports as we know it. It was originally published as a special issue of Sport, Ethics and Philosophy.

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Digital technology plays an important role in the everyday lives of people. New types of ‘digital sports’, (sport) gaming, exergaming, cybersport and eSports increase in popularity all over the world and are even challenging the modern and hegemonic concept of sport. Modern games can hardly be compared with the first generation of electronic games, as the diversity of games has increased dramatically.

Philosophers (of sport) have much to say about these new forms of digital play. This book bridges the gap between ‘game studies’ and current topics within the philosophy of sport literature. It does so by dealing with a variety of topics in which the virtual or the electronic takes over, contradicts or melts with current sports as we know it. This book deals with a variety of conceptual and moral questions, such as: Can video games and eSports be considered as sports activities or not? Are motor skills a defining characteristic of eSports? Can the personal identity be explored within the virtual world? What is happening in a virtual (game) world? How playful is a virtual environment? How do moral standards change in a digital game and how does the game-person and role-playing relate to the real person?

This book was originally published as a special issue of Sport, Ethics and Philosophy.