Jon Pike

Jon Pike joined the Open University in 1998, as Staff Tutor and Lecturer in Philosophy in the South East Region. He has written on his major teaching topic: political philosophy, from level one (on Cultural Exemptions) to the MA in Philosophy which he now co-chair with Derek Matravers. Within political philosophy, Pike has written about political obligation, distributive and global justice, and he maintains an interest in both Marx and Aristotle who were the topic of his doctoral dissertation and first book. But he is also very interested in rules, and breaking them, and in difficult actions, and failing at them. This has lead him to an interest in the philosophy of sport, which is now his main research focus. In this capacty he has worked with the World Anti-Doping Agency, UK Anti-Doping and the International Olympic Committee.

Research interests
His main research interest is in the Philosophy of Sport. Pike is the current Chair of the British Philosophy of Sport Association. He is interested in Doping and anti-Doping, in what - if anything - gives sport its value, and in how far a sport can change and still remain the same sport. He is working on a monograph against conventionalism, and for a version of essentialism as an account of sport.

Recent publications:
Pike, Jon (2021). Safety, fairness, and inclusion: transgender athletes and the essence of Rugby. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport (Early Access).