Abstract: Through literature data method, this paper researches the development, main points of view, debate focus and tendency of western sports philosophy. The result indicates that western sports philosophy appeared in the 1920s, and gradually entered into a period of prosperity after 1950s. Nowadays it is in the state of multilevel and multidisciplinary research. Naturalism, realism experimentalism, analytical philosophy, phenomenology, deontology, consequentialism and virtue ethics theory are widely used in the study of sports. At present, the research of western sports philosophy exhibit four development trends.

Key words: western countries, sports philosophy, developing outline, main points of view, developing trend