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Physical Literacy and Phenomenology

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

This chapter explores philosophical phenomenology which underpins Whitehead's conceptualisation of physical literacy (PL). Phenomenology features in PL from the point of view that human and world are inseparable. At the heart of phenomenology are key ideas of perception and intentionality, which are brought about by a person's actions, or ‘motricity’. Movement forms the central tenet of the phenomenology of PL. These ideas are explored and examples from different movement contexts support the role of each in how human beings might develop their PL. The phenomenological perspective appears to be human-centric but later in this chapter the material and social are considered together as the individual-world contributes to and enables movement and physical activity. Things in the world and humans are argued to be co-existing, showing the intrinsic relationship between human and world, of resonances between body and world. Whether movement and physical activity relate to elite athletic endeavours or tending a garden of vegetables, whether learning to hop or keep balance in older age, phenomenology informs how PL contributes to lifelong flourishing.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationRoutledge Handbook of Physical Literacy
EditorsLiz Durden-Myers
Place of PublicationLondon
PublisherTaylor and Francis - Balkema
Chapter13
Pages140-148
Number of pages9
Edition1
ISBN (Electronic)9781040511374, 9781032703466
ISBN (Print)9781032703336
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 May 2020

Publication series

NameRoutledge International Handbooks
PublisherRoutledge

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Social Sciences

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