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.
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
Biography
Mike McNamee is Reader in Philosophy, in the Department of Philosophy, History and Law in Healthcare, School of Health Science at Swansea University, Wales. He was formerly President of the International Association for the Philosophy of Sport and the Founding Chair of the British Philosophy of Sport Association. He is series co-editor of Routledge’s successful ‘Ethics and Sport Series’ and is Editor of the international journal Sport, Ethics and Philosophy.
"...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