ESPE 6103 - Ethical Issues in Sport

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes.

Ethics

The study of moral values of human behavior that guide individual decision-making.

Axiology

The study of values, including ethics, aesthetics, and politics.

Metaphysics

Branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of reality.

Cosmology

The study of the nature of the universe.

Ontology

The study of being/existence and human experience.

Theology

The study of God or religion.

Aristotle's virtue theory

The goodness of a thing lies in realizing its nature; the highest good for humans is the complete and habitual exercise of rationality; virtue is moral and intellectual.

Rationality

The exercise of human rational function, realized through virtue.

Moral virtue

A character trait guiding moral action (one of Aristotle's two kinds of virtue).

Intellectual virtue

Virtues of the mind (e.g., wisdom, understanding).

Epistemology

The study of knowledge.

Empirical

Knowledge gained through experimentation and the senses.

Reason

Knowledge derived from rational sources.

Intuition

Knowledge gained immediately without conscious reasoning.

Authority

Knowledge trusted from a recognized source.

Revelation

Knowledge believed to come from a divine source.

Induction

Reasoning from specific observations to general conclusions.

Deduction

Reasoning from general principles to specific conclusions.

Logic

Relation of ideas and argument structure; tool of inquiry.

Aesthetics

The study of beauty and taste.

Politics

The study of the common good and governance of a community.

Teleological ethics

End-focused morality; morality determined by the end result of actions.

Consequentialism

Moral rightness is determined by the consequences of an action.

Ethical Egoism

An action is morally right if its consequences favor the agent performing it.

Ethical Altruism

An action is morally right if its consequences favor others (not the agent).

Utilitarianism

An action is morally right if its consequences maximize overall well-being for everyone.

Deontological ethics

Duty-based morality; morality grounded in obligations or rules, not consequences.

Duty

Moral obligation to oneself and others; guiding actions by what is right, regardless of outcomes.

Prima Facie duties

Duties that are binding unless overridden by more important duties (e.g., fidelity, reparation, gratitude, justice, beneficence, self-improvement, non-maleficence).

Kant

Philosopher who emphasized duties, promises, and the moral significance of rational agents.

Virtue Ethics

Ethical theory focusing on the development of good character traits; virtue over rules or consequences.

Cardinal virtues

Plato's four central virtues: wisdom, courage, temperance, justice.

Habit

Developing good habits shapes character and guides ethical behavior.

Vices

Bad character traits to be avoided (e.g., cowardice, injustice, greed).

Moral development

Process of cultivating virtues through education and experience.

Doctrine of the Mean

Aristotle's idea that virtue lies between excess and deficiency; balance is key.

Aristotle's mean example

Courage is virtue; extremes are cowardice (deficiency) and rashness (excess).

Agency

Capacity to make choices; decisions influence one's value system.

Core values circle

Model where core beliefs are constant and inner; outer values become more permeable and changeable.

Decisions determine values

Daily choices reveal and shape one’s values over time.

Morality vs Law

Laws are not the same as morality; not all moral behavior can be legislated.

Codes of conduct

Organizational principles guiding behavior and moral discourse; help prevent violations.

Leadership ethics in sport

Ethical duties of sport managers; promoting fair practice and accountability.

Societal influences on values

Parents, peers, faith, community, and employers shape personal and organizational values.