Fundamentals of Sports Ethics
Edition: 3
Copyright: 2023
Edition: 3
Copyright: 2023
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Many students come into sports ethics courses with no previous exposure to academic philosophy. As a result, students no longer have basic philosophic literacy.
The NEW Third Edition of Fundamentals of Sports Ethics sets a serious philosophic foundation upon which readers can engage sport ethics. The book introduces basic philosophic contents that far too often sport philosophers take for granted and with which students struggle.
Gregg Twietmeyer’s Fundamentals of Sports Ethics:
- is written in a hybrid format that includes original narrative / prose on each topic.
- integrates new philosophic selections and discussion questions from philosophy, literature, and journalism.
- embeds contemporary content, including gambling in sport, human rights, and the every-growing commercialization of intercollegiate athletics.
- can be utilized with a myriad of sources and readings, including primary texts.
Chapter 1 What is Ethics? Why Bother Studying Sport Ethics?
Foundational Concepts
Normative & descriptive ethical claims
Intrinsic and extrinsic goods
What is Ethics?
Ethics and other branches of philosophy
Why bother with sports ethics?
Sport and human culture
Just Win?
Sport is about the process not merely the product
There are many shared excellences in sport
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Chapter 2 Good and Evil in Sport
We Don’t Live Compartmentalized Lives
There is More To Life than Practicalities
Moral Questions Abound in Sport
Accounts of Good and Evil
Transcendence
Hedonism
Good & evil as an illusion
Both Good and Evil Occur in Sport
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Chapter 3 Realism and Relativism in Sport
The Strengths of Relativism
Modesty, tolerance, and empiricism, oh my!
The Weaknesses of Relativism
Moral Realism is the Only Tenable Position
Why Does the Status of Moral Truth Matter to Athletes, Coaches, Administrators or Fans?
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Chapter 4 Utilitarianism
Bentham’s Quantitative Hedonism
J.S. Mill’s Qualitative Hedonism
Act versus Rule Utilitarianism
The Strengths of Utilitarianism
The Weaknesses of Utilitarianism
Utilitarian Responses
Utilitarianism & Sport
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Chapter 5 Deontological Ethics
Kant and the Categorical Imperative
Ross, Prima Facie Duties and Intuitionism
The Strengths of Deontological Ethics
The Weaknesses of Deontological Ethics
Deontologist Responses
Deontology and Sport?
The nature of sport?
Rule enforcement?
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Chapter 6 Virtue Ethics
Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
The Cardinal Virtues
The Strengths of Virtue Ethics
The Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics
Virtue Ethicist Responses
Virtue Ethics and Sport?
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Chapter 7 Why be Good?
The Ring of Gyges
Socrates’ response
Tit- for-Tat
Plato & Singer: Is Justice Something We Serve or Merely Something We Use?
“Why Be Good?” and Sport
The practical implications of intrinsic and extrinsic accounts of justice
Transcendence and sport?
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Chapter 8 How Do We Promote Ethical Behavior?
Mediating Institutions
Solidarity & subsidiarity
The Strengths of Mediating Institutions
The Weaknesses of Mediating Institutions
Responses in Defense of Mediating Institutions
Solidarity, Subsidiarity, Mediating Institutions, Sport?
Sport, Philosophy and the Good Life
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Appendix
Index
- Activities
- Discussion Prompts
- Instructors Resources
- Powerpoint
- Syllabus
- Test Bank
Dr. Twietmeyer has taught sport philosophy and sport ethics for over 10 years. He received his bachelor’s degree in Art from Concordia University, Ann Arbor in 1997 where he also played soccer and worked in the athletics department. Between 1997 and 2003 Dr. Twietmeyer worked in graphic arts, marketing and coaching. In August 2003 he received his Master’s Degree in Sport Management from the University of Michigan. Dr. Twietmeyer then spent a year working at Albion College, in Albion, MI as the Assistant Sports Information Director, where he was involved in media production, web design and game management.
After working for a year at Albion, Dr. Twietmeyer decided to pursue a Ph.D. in sport philosophy at the Pennsylvania State University. He first taught sport ethics while at Penn State University as a graduate student. Since graduating from Penn State in 2008, he has continued to teach sport ethics, first at Marshall University (2008–2015) and now at Mississippi State University (2015–present).
Dr. Twietmeyer has published widely and presented his research around the world. He has coached high school and YMCA soccer and currently volunteers as a U6, U8, and U12 recreational soccer coach for the Starkville Soccer Association. Dr. Twietmeyer also continues to play soccer whenever possible. For the past 6 years he has run a summer camp, through a partnership with the nonprofit charity ICanShine, which helps special needs children and adults learn how to ride a two wheel bike independently (www.bulldogbike.msstate.edu). In each of the 6 years the camp has been offered, the students in Dr. Twietmeyer’s summer section of sport ethics have volunteered at the camp as part of the course. Dr. Twietmeyer resides in Starkville, MS with his wife Sarah and their five children.
Twietmeyer has produced an excellent introduction to the subject that will be a hugely valuable resource for undergraduate sports students. Twietmeyer’s commitment as a sport philosopher to ‘articulation rather than consensus’ (p. 236) informs his treatment of the subject: this is a textbook with ‘a stiff moral spine’.
Mike Tyler, University of Worcester, UK
Read the Full Review in Journal of the Philosophy of Sport
Twietmeyer’s Fundamentals of Sports Ethics has been my ‘go to’ teaching text since it first came out, for the simple reason that it is an excellent, accessible introduction to ethical theory applied to sport but with additional tools for assisting the development of critical thinking... For anyone teaching a course in sports ethics, this is a unique and comprehensive resource.
Emily Ryall, University of Gloucestershire, UK
Twietmeyer writes in a clear, concise, and uncompromising way. Applications of ethics to sport are on target and need to be heeded in this day and age. The book is an important addition to our literature in sport philosophy.
Scott Kretchmar, Penn State University
Dr. Twietmeyer's book is filled with thorough and varying philosophical perspectives. The text is quite riveting, and truly made me think about the challenges of being a sports practitioner. The transparency and honesty are valuable components, because one is prompted to think about all the potential points of concern necessary to efficiently operate in such a wide-ranging field.
Leo, Mississippi State University Student
Many students come into sports ethics courses with no previous exposure to academic philosophy. As a result, students no longer have basic philosophic literacy.
The NEW Third Edition of Fundamentals of Sports Ethics sets a serious philosophic foundation upon which readers can engage sport ethics. The book introduces basic philosophic contents that far too often sport philosophers take for granted and with which students struggle.
Gregg Twietmeyer’s Fundamentals of Sports Ethics:
- is written in a hybrid format that includes original narrative / prose on each topic.
- integrates new philosophic selections and discussion questions from philosophy, literature, and journalism.
- embeds contemporary content, including gambling in sport, human rights, and the every-growing commercialization of intercollegiate athletics.
- can be utilized with a myriad of sources and readings, including primary texts.
Chapter 1 What is Ethics? Why Bother Studying Sport Ethics?
Foundational Concepts
Normative & descriptive ethical claims
Intrinsic and extrinsic goods
What is Ethics?
Ethics and other branches of philosophy
Why bother with sports ethics?
Sport and human culture
Just Win?
Sport is about the process not merely the product
There are many shared excellences in sport
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Chapter 2 Good and Evil in Sport
We Don’t Live Compartmentalized Lives
There is More To Life than Practicalities
Moral Questions Abound in Sport
Accounts of Good and Evil
Transcendence
Hedonism
Good & evil as an illusion
Both Good and Evil Occur in Sport
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Chapter 3 Realism and Relativism in Sport
The Strengths of Relativism
Modesty, tolerance, and empiricism, oh my!
The Weaknesses of Relativism
Moral Realism is the Only Tenable Position
Why Does the Status of Moral Truth Matter to Athletes, Coaches, Administrators or Fans?
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Chapter 4 Utilitarianism
Bentham’s Quantitative Hedonism
J.S. Mill’s Qualitative Hedonism
Act versus Rule Utilitarianism
The Strengths of Utilitarianism
The Weaknesses of Utilitarianism
Utilitarian Responses
Utilitarianism & Sport
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Chapter 5 Deontological Ethics
Kant and the Categorical Imperative
Ross, Prima Facie Duties and Intuitionism
The Strengths of Deontological Ethics
The Weaknesses of Deontological Ethics
Deontologist Responses
Deontology and Sport?
The nature of sport?
Rule enforcement?
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Chapter 6 Virtue Ethics
Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
The Cardinal Virtues
The Strengths of Virtue Ethics
The Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics
Virtue Ethicist Responses
Virtue Ethics and Sport?
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Chapter 7 Why be Good?
The Ring of Gyges
Socrates’ response
Tit- for-Tat
Plato & Singer: Is Justice Something We Serve or Merely Something We Use?
“Why Be Good?” and Sport
The practical implications of intrinsic and extrinsic accounts of justice
Transcendence and sport?
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Chapter 8 How Do We Promote Ethical Behavior?
Mediating Institutions
Solidarity & subsidiarity
The Strengths of Mediating Institutions
The Weaknesses of Mediating Institutions
Responses in Defense of Mediating Institutions
Solidarity, Subsidiarity, Mediating Institutions, Sport?
Sport, Philosophy and the Good Life
Philosophic Selections
Suggested Readings
Bibliography
Appendix
Index
Dr. Twietmeyer has taught sport philosophy and sport ethics for over 10 years. He received his bachelor’s degree in Art from Concordia University, Ann Arbor in 1997 where he also played soccer and worked in the athletics department. Between 1997 and 2003 Dr. Twietmeyer worked in graphic arts, marketing and coaching. In August 2003 he received his Master’s Degree in Sport Management from the University of Michigan. Dr. Twietmeyer then spent a year working at Albion College, in Albion, MI as the Assistant Sports Information Director, where he was involved in media production, web design and game management.
After working for a year at Albion, Dr. Twietmeyer decided to pursue a Ph.D. in sport philosophy at the Pennsylvania State University. He first taught sport ethics while at Penn State University as a graduate student. Since graduating from Penn State in 2008, he has continued to teach sport ethics, first at Marshall University (2008–2015) and now at Mississippi State University (2015–present).
Dr. Twietmeyer has published widely and presented his research around the world. He has coached high school and YMCA soccer and currently volunteers as a U6, U8, and U12 recreational soccer coach for the Starkville Soccer Association. Dr. Twietmeyer also continues to play soccer whenever possible. For the past 6 years he has run a summer camp, through a partnership with the nonprofit charity ICanShine, which helps special needs children and adults learn how to ride a two wheel bike independently (www.bulldogbike.msstate.edu). In each of the 6 years the camp has been offered, the students in Dr. Twietmeyer’s summer section of sport ethics have volunteered at the camp as part of the course. Dr. Twietmeyer resides in Starkville, MS with his wife Sarah and their five children.
- Activities
- Discussion Prompts
- Instructors Resources
- Powerpoint
- Syllabus
- Test Bank
Twietmeyer has produced an excellent introduction to the subject that will be a hugely valuable resource for undergraduate sports students. Twietmeyer’s commitment as a sport philosopher to ‘articulation rather than consensus’ (p. 236) informs his treatment of the subject: this is a textbook with ‘a stiff moral spine’.
Mike Tyler, University of Worcester, UK
Read the Full Review in Journal of the Philosophy of Sport
Twietmeyer’s Fundamentals of Sports Ethics has been my ‘go to’ teaching text since it first came out, for the simple reason that it is an excellent, accessible introduction to ethical theory applied to sport but with additional tools for assisting the development of critical thinking... For anyone teaching a course in sports ethics, this is a unique and comprehensive resource.
Emily Ryall, University of Gloucestershire, UK
Twietmeyer writes in a clear, concise, and uncompromising way. Applications of ethics to sport are on target and need to be heeded in this day and age. The book is an important addition to our literature in sport philosophy.
Scott Kretchmar, Penn State University
Dr. Twietmeyer's book is filled with thorough and varying philosophical perspectives. The text is quite riveting, and truly made me think about the challenges of being a sports practitioner. The transparency and honesty are valuable components, because one is prompted to think about all the potential points of concern necessary to efficiently operate in such a wide-ranging field.
Leo, Mississippi State University Student