Philosophy Paper, The Beautiful Game
This paper was created in a philosophy course. My goal was to look at how football is changing and how that reflects in the real world, moreover, I wanted to approach the shifts in football with a philosophical lens. Below you have a summary of my essay. Click here, for the full essay.
Concise summary of my paper:
The essay is a passionate critique of how modern football is losing its essence due to over-commercialization, overuse of technology, and a shift in priorities from creativity to profitability. The writer mourns the loss of the freedom and artistry that once defined the game, pointing out how football has become robotic and business-driven.
Two major case studies support this argument:
1. Inflated transfer prices (e.g., Højlund’s move to Manchester United) highlight how financial value often outweighs actual sporting merit.
2. Club ownership shifts from fans to corporations, especially outside Germany's 50+1 ownership rule, shows how profit now dictates club decisions, alienating lifelong supporters and increasing costs for fans.
The essay draws philosophical parallels:
1. Rousseau’s ideas on freedom reflect the loss of creativity and individual expression in modern tactics.
2. Plato’s Allegory of the Cave illustrates how fans and players are trapped in a distorted version of football, clinging to nostalgic memories of the game's golden era.
Despite the negative trends, there is hope; new formats like the revamped Champions League and grassroots movements still offer moments of joy and potential revival.
I propose to return football to its roots by empowering fans, enforcing rules like the 50+1 model, limiting commercial exploitation, and focusing more on youth development rather than mega-money transfers. The game should be led by passion, not profit.