Heather Reid writes chapter for new football book

A chapter written by Dr. Heather Reid, professor and department chair of philosophy at Morningside College, is included in “Football and Philosophy: Going Deep,” a book recently published by The University Press of Kentucky.

The book is a collection of essays that tackle several philosophical themes concerning American football.

Reid’s essay, “Heroes of the Coliseum,” compares how the ancient Romans treated their gladiators to how the American public treats modern day college football players.

“What’s most fascinating about football players and gladiators is not their daily hardships or social marginalization,” said Reid. “Rather, it is the fact that so many transcend these things to distinguish themselves as revered symbols of excellence or virtue.”

Reid, a 1986 graduate of the University of Virginia, has been at Morningside since the fall of 1996. She earned her master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1994 and 1996, respectively. She has received international recognition for her expertise on the philosophical foundations of the Olympic Games and has served as president of the International Association for the Philosophy of Sport. Reid is author of “The Philosophical Athlete” and numerous scholarly articles and book chapters on ancient Greek philosophy, sport philosophy, and Olympic studies.

“Football and Philosophy: Going Deep” is edited by Michael W. Austin, associate professor of philosophy at Eastern Kentucky University.

The book is available at through several on-line retailers including Amazon.com, Barnes & Nobles, and Target.