The Ethos of Excellence

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the normative role of conventions in sports. However, the approach I have in mind does not dispatch the theory of interpretivism. What I offer is a synthesis that aims to show how interpretivism works in concert with -and relies heavily on -conventions. To make this point, I will argue that historical, cultural, and even simple preferential needs and desires help to determine what counts as athletic 'excellence' in sports.The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the normative importance of conventions for ethical adjudications in sports. This is a novel approach because the model of conventionalism that I have in mind does not dispatch the rival theory of interpretivism. What I offer, rather, is a synthesis. I hope to show that interpretivism works in concert with -and relies heavily on -conventionalism.To make this point I give credence to the interpretivist principle that sportspeople should maintain and foster athletic 'excellence'. However, I will also argue that historical, cultural, and even simple preferential needs and desires help to determine what counts as athletic 'excellence' in sports. Moral considerations in sports are thus informed by conventionally shaped understandings of athletic 'excellence'. At first glance this may strike readers as dangerously relativistic. Nonetheless, I will show that it need not be so. If this stance has merit, it should make the methodology sport philosophers and participants use to work through moral dilemmas more transparent and effective.

Internal Values of Sport and Bio-Technologized Sport

“…Finally, a new and broader model for/of intrinsic values of sport is needed, where values will be seen in its social and historical sport-practicing context. In this regard, I salute previous literature strivings in that direction by scholars like Morgan [20,21], Martinková [5], Kretchmar [13], Berg [26], and MacRae [15,16]. In this area also lies my own interest and recent work [31].…”

“…And that connotates further the presence of diverse inner types of excellence that can be (or should be) classified and hierarchized in some order-due to their complexity, comprehensive or universalistic character, type of sport and/or discipline, gender group referment... Additionally, the value of excellence was quite different in certain periods of sports history, it is changing and developing through the same history together with sports, per se [20]. Furthermore, in a different social context, unique ethos within the sport practice communities influence quite dissimilar understandings and roles that the value of excellence has [26] (pp. 241-242).…”

Communication Pattern Strategies Dependent on the Transgression of Professional Sports Teams

“…이러한 상황에서 프로스포츠팀이나 협회는 부정적인 사건의 발 생 시점이나 종류에 따라 다른 방식의 커뮤니케이션 대응전략을 사 용할 수 있다. 이들이 사용하는 커뮤니케이션 전략은 팬들이 구단에 가지는 신뢰나 모기업의 가치에 영향을 미칠 수 있다는 점에서 체계 적인 분석이 필요하지만, 극소수의 연구에서만이 국내 프로스포츠 팀에서 발생한 불법행위와 비윤리적인 사건들에 대한 커뮤니케이션 전략에 관심을 가지는 것으로 보인다 (Chien et al, 2016;Osborne et al, 2016;Shin et al, 2014;Stoldt et al, 2006;Yang & Kang, 2019) (Berg, 2015;Dixson, 1999;Kretchmar, 2015;Morgan, 2019;Simon, 2015;Suits, 2018).…”