Citation

Sailors PR, Teetzel S, Weaving C. Ann. Leis. Res. 2017; 20(5): 563-577.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Australian and New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/11745398.2017.1284009

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper analyses the ethics of rule breaking, lying, and failing to try one's best in recreational sports and leisure activities. Foundational philosophical arguments regarding the ethics of cheating, lying, and failing to try by Scott Kretchmar, Robert Simon, and Sissela Bok are applied to cases of seemingly unethical behaviour in leisure practices. Three specific scenarios are addressed: (1) recreational-level participants who intentionally break rules, (2) participants who exaggerate their performances, and (3) participants who appear more concerned with collecting medals and ensuring selfies are taken than with putting forth significant effort. The resulting philosophical analysis addresses why cheating, lying, and sandbagging can be tolerated as part of the ethos of some leisure activities while being disdained in others, and what, if anything, is morally wrong about cheating, lying and not trying one's best during recreational sports and leisure practices.

Language: en

Keywords

cheating; lying; recreation; sandbagging; Sports ethics