Normative Theories of Sport

Ryall, Emily S ORCID: 0000-0002-6050-4353 (2024) Normative Theories of Sport. Routledge Resources Online - Sports Studies. doi:10.4324/9780367766924-RESS111-1

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Abstract

Normative theories of sport attempt to unpick the issues of value and sport, and how sport fits into the concept of a good life and just society. Normative theories provide a framework and understanding of what good sport looks like, which values should be prioritized, and what types of rules are more or less important. This includes questions about how fairness manifests itself in sport, what the rules of eligibility for competition should be, and how rule-breaking should be considered and punished. Debates on the value of sport usually center on whether sport is valuable because it helps in achieving or facilitating other values, or whether it is of value in itself. This represents the debate between external and internal perspectives of sport. An externalist will argue that the value of sport is found merely in the way that sport reflects the values that are held in society and culture as a whole. An internalist however, maintains that there are inherent values particular to sport itself that are not merely instrumental to attaining other external goods. This article outlines the key normative theories of sport, highlights the different approaches to the value of sport and provides a framework in determining how sport ought to be played. They can be categorized as formalist, conventionalist, broad internalist, pluralist, pragmatic and discourse approaches to sport.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Value; Rules; Ethics; Formalism; Broad Internalism; Interpretivism; Conventionalism; Bernard Suits; William J. Morgan; Robert L. Simon
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Emily Ryall
Date Deposited:	12 Jan 2023 11:20
Last Modified:	09 Jul 2024 10:35
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/12061

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