Sports Virtues and Vices

<p>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. </p><p>The primary aim of <em>Sports, Virtues and Vices</em> 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.</p><p>Including a wealth of contemporary sporting examples, the book explores key ethical issues such as: </p><ul> <p> </p> <li>How the pursuit of sporting excellence can lead to harm</li> <p> </p> <li>Doping, greed and shame </li> <p> </p> <li>Biomedical technology as a challenge to the virtue of elite athletes</li> <p> </p> <li>Defining a ‘virtue ethical account’ in sport</li> <p> </p> <li>Family vices and virtues in sport</li> </ul><p>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.</p> <p>Contents Introduction Ancient rituals and modern morality plays <strong>PART I Sports, Persons and Ethical Sport </strong>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 <strong>PART II Vicious and Virtuous Sport </strong>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 <strong>PART III Sports Ethics, Medicine and Technology </strong>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</p>