[Body image, sports and exercise]

In the article, basic modes of understanding the human body are systematically and critically described and discussed as premises for our understanding of exercise and sports. The article is based on relevant sources from the philosophy and the sociology of the body and from sports studies. In a traditional dualistic perspective, the body is seen as an object and as a part of a deterministic nature. In exercise and sports, the body is seen as a means towards external goals such as health and performance. In an alternative, phenomenological perspective, human beings are looked upon as body-subjects. The focus is on experiences and values in bodily movement and activity. A third perspective sees the body as a social construction. Our experience and understanding of the body are shaped by the psychosocial and socio-cultural contexts of which we are part. Exercise and sports are understood as expressions of various interests and power relations. In conclusion, it is suggested that the good life is a life in which the various perspectives of the body are balanced, with valuable experiences as body-subjects as the primary goal.