The varieties of cheating - ethical analysis

Introduction

Drawing on previous work primarily from Loland [1] and Fraleigh [2], the aim of the study is to define, categorize, and discuss critically from an ethical perspective cheating in sport competitions.

Methods

approach is casuistic and analytic. Firstly, some characteristic cases of cheating are examined and categorized. Secondly, the categories are discussed ethically from contractualist perspectives inspired by John Rawls [3].

Results

Cheating is defined as intentional violations against the ethos of the sport in which one takes part. The ethos of a sport is understood as the commonly accepted social interpretation of the rules among practitioners. The most common form of cheating is deceit. Deceit is defined as an intentional ethos violation with the aim of reaching an exclusive advantage without being detected so as to escape penalty. A subcategory of deceit is so-called play-acting or simulation that implies a simulated violation with the aim of reaching an exclusive advantage and/or imposing penalty on another competitor. The tactical or professional foul does not imply deceit but is an open ethos violation in which a penalty is taken for the sake of an expected long-term advantage.

Discussion/Conclusion

Cheating is then critically examined from an ethical perspective. Deceit is seen as a violation against the tacit agreement on ethos-adherence that follows voluntary participation in competitions. Such violations call for reduction of the advantage gained and for additional penalty. Simulation is considered a particularly problematic form of cheating as it often is done with the aim of imposing penalty on an innocent. Professional fouls are more ambiguous. They are considered a problem due to the fact that these are situations in which penalties do no fit the violations, and that competitors demonstrate an obvious lack of respect for the rules.

References

1. Loland S (2002) Fair Play in Sport - A Moral Norm System. London: Routledge
   
2. Fraleigh W (2003) Intentional Rule Violation - One More Time. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport XXX, 2, 166-176
   
3. Rawls J (1971) A Theory of Justice. Cambridge, Harvard University Press