The very idea of a competition can be seen all around us. There are competitions when playing games, running for elections, searching for a job, and many more instances. Also, within those instances are several variations of the task these people are trying to reach. This includes running for class president or class treasurer, playing video games or outdoor activities, trying to get a full-time position or internship, and many more examples. But what exactly is a competition and is there a common definition that everyone agrees on?
To solve this problem, it’s important to first understand the textbook definition of a competition. Here are a few examples I found in several different textbooks and dictionaries:
- The effort to obtain something wanted by others; rivalry
- A contest for some prize, honor, or advantage
- Rivalry for supremacy, a prize
- (Biology) The struggle among organisms, both of the same and of different species for food, space and other survival requirements
- (Sociology) Rivalry between 2 or more persons or groups for an object desired in common, usually resulting in a victor and a loser but not necessarily involving the destruction of the latter
From these definitions, we can establish some key repeating points. Namely, a competition must involve at least 2 different parties made up of either an individual or a group, and there should be some kind of outcome that features a reward. The issue now is whether or not this applies to everyone’s personal definition. For instance, many people say they are competing with themselves in order to beat a previous record or high score in a game. Although it is a contest with a reward, there is still only one person involved and thus can’t really be defined as a competition. Another example would be when a gym teacher sets up teams in a competition and the final result is that everyone had fun. It’s true that everyone is facing each other and having fun, but if no winner is declared then there can’t be a reward, physical or abstract. Some would even say not giving recognition to the winning team is insulting, but that is more for the individual to decide.
Then there are times when a competition seems to one sided and then the definition seems flawed. A great example would be if two people were competing for a full time job. Person A would have a Masters Degree, be dressed well, have an excellent resume, and may even have nepotism within the firm. Person B would be dressed sloppily, have never prepared for an interview before, and may just have a high school degree and nothing beyond that. Now according to the definition there are two separate parties competing and there is the reward of receiving the position. However, the one with the degree and such will obviously be the victor and it seems rather pointless for the other guy. I’m not saying he shouldn’t at least try, but can it be called a competition if the winner can be found before the task is complete? The
This is an interesting and thought provoking post. I hadn’t given much thought to the many ways that one could interpret the idea of competition. In my opinion, friendly competition is mostly a good thing as long as it serves a productive purpose, like bettering oneself in some way. In this case, even if someone is a competition with them self, they have an overall goal of improving and progressing, which I think can be seen as a healthy use of competition. The question you ask at the end of your post is an interesting one. I would say that the scenario you described with Person A and Person B can be seen as a competition because although one candidate was clearly more qualified, they both had an equal chance to impress the interviewer.
The concept of competition is indeed multifaceted, and it extends to many aspects of our lives. Whether in a game, election, or job search, competition typically involves multiple parties vying for a reward. However, the nuances of what makes a competition fair or meaningful can differ depending on the situation. For example, in a job interview scenario, where one candidate clearly has a significant advantage over the other, it can feel less like a genuine competition and more like an exercise in inevitability. Similarly, some competitions, like those in casual settings, may lack a clear winner but still hold value in terms of participation or enjoyment. In the same way, products like the air queen mask may not always be part of a competitive context, but their innovative design can represent a kind of silent competition for quality and effectiveness in a crowded market.
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