The Concept of Physical Literacy

TLDR

The term Physical Literacy has been used intermittently without serious analysis, and the discussion is organized into three parts. The paper aims to open a debate on Physical Literacy by proposing a context for its definition, discussing possible components, and framing the concept within an existential and phenomenological perspective. The authors propose a contextual framework for defining Physical Literacy, outline its components from a philosophical standpoint, and present a series of questions to guide further inquiry. Earlier research by Whitehead (1987) provides foundational findings, and the paper challenges its own proposals, calling for critical consideration at this stage of the debate.

Abstract

The intention of this paper is to open a debate on the concept of Physical Literacy. This is a term that has been used intermittently over the years but has never received serious analysis. The discussion has three parts. The first sets out, briefly, the findings of earlier research (Whitehead, 1987), which created the ground for this paper. The second proposes a context within which the concept of Physical Literacy may be defined and uses this context to discuss possible components of the concept The presentation is set in an existential and phenomenological context and therefore considers the concept of Physical Literacy from a particular philosophical perspective. The final part of the paper lists a series of questions. These challenge proposals that are made in the paper and, at this stage in the debate, need to be subject to critical consideration.