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Sports, Virtues and Vices

Morality Plays

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Sports have long played an important role in society. By exploring the evolving link between sporting behaviour and the prevailing ethics of the time this comprehensive and wide-ranging study illuminates our understanding of the wider social significance of sport.

The primary aim of Sports, Virtues and Vices is to situate ethics at the heart of sports via ‘virtue ethical’ considerations that can be traced back to the gymnasia of ancient Greece. The central theme running through the book is that sports are effectively modern morality plays: universal practices of moral education for the masses and - when coached, officiated and played properly - a valuable vehicle for ethical development.

Including a wealth of contemporary sporting examples, the book explores key ethical issues such as:

  • How the pursuit of sporting excellence can lead to harm
  • Doping, greed and shame
  • Biomedical technology as a challenge to the virtue of elite athletes
  • Defining a ‘virtue ethical account’ in sport
  • Family vices and virtues in sport

Written by one of the world's foremost sports philosophers, this book powerfully unites the fields of sports ethics and medical ethics. It is essential reading for all students and scholars with an interest in the ethics and philosophy of sport.

Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction

Ancient rituals and modern morality plays

PART I

Sports, Persons and Ethical Sport

Chapter 1

What is this thing called sport?

Chapter 2

Sports, persons and sportspersonship

Chapter 3

Sports as practices

Chapter 4

Sport and ethical development

PART II

Vicious and Virtuous Sport

Chapter 5

Codes of conduct and trustworthy coaches

Chapter 6

Racism, racist acts and courageous role models

Chapter 7

Hubris, humility and humiliation

Chapter 8

Schadenfreude: envy, justice and self-esteem

PART III

Sports Ethics, Medicine and Technology

Chapter 9

Suffering in and for sport

Contents

Introduction

Ancient rituals and modern morality plays

PART I

Sports, Persons and Ethical Sport

Chapter 1

What is this thing called sport?

Chapter 2

Sports, persons and sportspersonship

Chapter 3

Sports as practices

Chapter 4

Sport and ethical development

PART II

Vicious and Virtuous Sport

Chapter 5

Codes of conduct and trustworthy coaches

Chapter 6

Racism, racist acts and courageous role models

Chapter 7

Hubris, humility and humiliation

Chapter 8

Schadenfreude: envy, justice and self-esteem

PART III

Sports Ethics, Medicine and Technology

Chapter 9

Suffering in and for sport

Chapter 10

Doping: slippery slopes, pleonexia and shame

Chapter 11

Whose Prometheus? Transhumanism, Biotechnology and the moral topography of sports medicine

Chapter 10

Doping: slippery slopes, pleonexia and shame

Chapter 11

Whose Prometheus? Transhumanism, Biotechnology and the moral topography of sports medicine

Reviews

"…a valuable contribution to the literature on sport philosophy and an excellent resource for individuals seeking a thoughtful analysis of the impact of sport on moral life in community." Choice, January 2009