Abstract

Confusion and disagreement about the nature and value of competition are common. ;Chapter 1 both raises problems about and articulates an approach for comprehending and evaluating competition. The approach is to illuminate the field of relations competition inhabits, to distinguish types of competition from each other and from other sorts of relations in the field, and to articulate and apply an evaluative framework to the types of competition and to mixed type relations. ;Chapter 2 explicates background conditions for, and articulates criteria for types of, competition. The background conditions illuminate a field inhabited by relations of interactive striving for the same objective; competition, rivalry, many sorts of conflict, and cooperation inhabit this field. A circumscribing condition excludes pure games of chance from being competition. Formulations of what is essential to competition in terms of actual, expected, or sought outcomes are criticized. Three types of competition to be investigated are articulated, and three other types are noted. ;Chapter 3 explicates and defends criteria for three different types of competition. Oppositional competition involves coded oppositional interaction and is distinguished from conflict; its internal purpose is mutual challenging. Emulative competition involves emulative interaction and is distinguished from rivalry; its internal purpose is mutual spurring. Serial competition involves serial interaction and is distinguished from rivalry; its internal purpose is mutual pressuring. Mixed type competitive relations and roughly mixed types involving conflict or rivalry are considered. ;Chapter 4 articulates and applies an evaluative framework composed of inquiries into the value of the form of the relation, the value of the activity, and benefits and detriments. Each type of competition has its own ideal and unideal forms and has different requirements and problems of equality and fairness. Mixed and roughly mixed types of relations are also evaluated. ;Chapter 5 concludes the essay with criticisms of views about competition in American culture and ideology