CENTER FOR ETHICS*
University of Idaho
Center for ETHICS
500 Memorial Gym
Moscow, ID 83844-2429
Phone: (208) 885-2103
Fax: (208) 885-2108
Email: sstoll@uidaho.edu
|
Glossary of terms
frequently used at the Center for ETHICS*
Select the first letter of the word
from the list above to jump to appropriate section of the glossary.
- aesthetic
A philosophic term that is applied when something is "pleasing
to the senses", whatever the - sense might be:
sight, sound, touch, feel, kinesthetic, taste, or smell.
- amoral
-
-
An ethical position
meaning one is not able to make a judgment. Such actions are
outside the realm of morality.
-
- anabolic steroids
A drug that resembles male testosterone. A controlled substance
that is ONLY used for body building or strength increases.
- applied ethics
The practical application of ethical theory directed toward
issues in life and certain professions, i.e., medical ethics, sport
ethics, business ethics, law ethics and so forth.-
- athletics
-
The competitive experience of sport whereby coaching is essential
with spectators being
- present, and with
specific constitutive, proscriptive, and sportsmanship rules highly
developed within an organized structure. The experience is often
likened to that of work with decided aspects of dedication,
intensity, and sacrifice.
-
- autonomy
-
- A philosophic term
meaning self governance, whereby one has the right, power, or
condition of self governance. The individual has self determinism
and freedom from external control or coercion.
-
- axiology
The branch of philosophy dedicated to the study of value.
-
beneficence
The ethical position whereby one attempts and is actually
obligated to do no harm, remove harm, prevent harm, and actually do
good.-
- bias
The position whereby an individual shows partiality and
prejudice and slanting an opinion in one direction only.
- character
A moral demeanor that refers to one's outward demeanor as judged
by society. Positive moral character refers to one's ability to know
the right and to have the courage to follow the right. Character
refers to one's virtue, or how one lives by a set of moral values. A
person of character is one who is known to be honest, just, fair,
and decent to others. A person of honor and integrity.-
- choice
One of the necessary stipulations (Value, Principle, Obligation,
and Choice) to determine whether a moral issue is being presented. A
moral dilemma does not exist if one does not have a choice.
Coercion, manipulation, or other excusing conditions usually
abrogates moral responsibility.-
- code of ethics
guidelines written for a professional body to follow. These
guidelines are always developed by the professional body, monitored
by that body, and enforced by that body-
- cognitive
dissonance
The cognitive process whereby an individual's values and beliefs
are challenged. The challenging process is necessary in moral
reasoning to wrestle with moral dilemmas.-
- constitutive rules
The specific game rules that guide play in a sport. Constitutive
rules may have unsportsmanlike conduct explicitly described and
violations specifically written to punish such behavior.-
- consequential
ethics
Theory based in utilitarian philosophy. Right and wrong are
based on the greater amount of good brought about. The consequences
of action play a major role in deciding the greater amount of good.
Major philosophers: Mill and Bentham who espoused utilitarian
ethics.-
- corticosteroids
Steroids developed particularly to reduce inflammation,
especially those brought on by over use syndrome. Only legal form of
steroid ingestion or injection presently accepted. Corticoid
steroids do not cause anabolic characteristics.
- deductive
reasoning
Philosophic reasoning described as one in which the argument
moves from the general perspective to the specific.
- deontic ethics
(non-consequential)
Ethical theory based on the ideal that we can perceive rightness
apart from any consequences. This perspective believes that there is
an inherent right, which must be followed regardless of any
extraneous factors. Right and wrong are based on the ideal of what
should be. Major philosophers: Kant, i.e., Kantian ethics. -
- determinism
Every event, including human choice and volition, is caused by
other events and happens as an effect or result of these other
events.
-
- due process
The action of giving individuals the right to refute accusations
or actions, and to give individuals a just accounting.-
- dogmatism
The argumentation position based on opinion which is not
supported by fact.
-
ethics
The theoretical study of morality. Ethics is also the standard
of morality that a profession should follow.-
- ergogenic aids
Any aid, supplement, or ingested material taken to garner an
advantage in the sport experience. Ergogenic aids are usually known
as anabolic steroids, blood doping, human growth hormone, or other
like materials.-
- epistemology
One of the philosophic branches of philosophy. The
epistemologist studies knowledge, in particular addressing such
questions as: Can we know? What do we know? How do we come to know?-
- excusing
conditions
An ethical position in which outside factors out of an
individual's control, excuse the individual from moral action. That
is, if the moral action places one in undue jeopardy, or if one
cannot readily affect the outcome, or if one is ignorant of the
conditions, one is excused from acting.-
- extrinsic value
The relative worth that an individual places on objects, things,
or actions that have an objective worth. For example, an athlete or
others in the athletic community might place much value on an
article like a letter jacket, which is a symbol awarded for work
done.
-
false obstruction
A reasoning obstacle that does not permit an individual to
morally reason through a dilemma. Usually this obstacle is
permitting a bias or perception cloud one's thinking.-
- free choice
The philosophic position that individuals have the freedom to
choose their moral actions without intimidation, coercion, or
manipulation being a factor. Free choice in contrast to determinism
supports the concept of autonomy. Choices one can make based on
values, outside determinism.
- gamesmanship
The perspective of pushing the rules to the limit, without
getting caught, using whatever dubious methods to achieve the end.
- honesty
The quality of trustworthiness in which an individual can be
depended on to "not lie, cheat, or steal.".-
- honor
A virtue or distinguishable characteristic of an individual that
implies the individual is obligated to follow a specific set of
written or unwritten moral guidelines. Honor implies that the
individual has given one's word as a guarantee of future moral
performance.
-
immoral
A moral perspective in which the individual knows the good,
right, and proper course of action but instead chooses to do wrong.-
- inductive
reasoning
Reasoning from particular facts to a general conclusion.
- integrity
A moral virtue or distinguishable character trait in which an
individual is free from corruption. That is, the individual has been
shown to have certain positive, moral character traits that even
when challenged and tempted to do wrong, will chose the good, right,
and proper.-
- intimidation
An intentional ac done to frighten or inhibit others or to
rendered them to do certain behaviors.-
- intrinsic value
A nonmoral value in which relative worth of an event, object, or
experience is placed on some internal, personal satisfaction. An
intrinsic nonmoral value in sport might be the internal, personal
joy of playing, the joy of success, the joy of experience, and so
forth.
justice
A universal moral value in which the essential nature of
fairness and equity should be applied to all peoples. Justice in
sport refers to "making the field" level either in constitutive
rules or for past inadequacies, social injustices, or
physical/mental handicaps.
- logic
The philosophic branch of philosophy in which the focus in on
the study of language.
- materialism
The doctrine that everything in the world, including thought,
can be explained only in terms of matter. The individual tendency to
be more concerned with material, objects, than with spiritual or
intellectual values.-
- meta-ethics
The specific philosophic study of ethics in which the formal
academic inquiry is toward the analytical. The philosophic branch of
philosophy in which study is directed toward questioning the nature
of reality. Divided into several different directions, i.e.,
cosmology, (what is the nature of the universe) or ontology (what is
the nature of man). In sport, a metaphysician might ask the
question, why do we play?
- moral
The moral perspective in which one knows the good, proper, and
right. The moral perspective is played out through one's motives,
intentions, and actions as they impinge on or affect other human
beings.-
- morality
The motives, intentions, and actions of an individual as they
are directed toward others and how these are judged by the greater
society.-
- moral development
The evolving growth process by which one learns to take others
into consideration in making moral decisions. Moral Development is
usually considered to occur through six different stages in three
different levels, from a low reasoned perspective to a greater
reasoned perspective.-
- moral judgment
The ability to form an opinion on moral issues.
- moral reasoning
The ability to systematically think through a moral problem
taking into consideration one's own values and beliefs while
weighing them against what others and society values and believes.-
- moral value
The worth each individual places on specific nonmoral values,
such as winning, which affect and impinge others. Moral values are
usually highly specific, such as honesty, justice, responsibility,
and beneficence.-
- motivation
The psychological condition which moves an individual to action.
- nepotism
The political response in which favoritism is shown to relatives
or cronies in delegating authority.-
- non-moral value
The perspective taken toward an issue in which good and bad are
determined based on non moral issues. The question is based on
intrinsic or extrinsic values. For example, Jane has a good car.-
- normative ethics
The theoretical study or position of morality in which a
rightness and wrongness is analyzed and reviewed with a decision
specifically stated. For example, that's the wrong thing to do.
- obligation
One of the four stipulations of an event which must be met to
equate to a moral dilemma. Obligation implies that one "should" and
even must follow one's principles, based on one's moral values.-
- objectivity
The philosophic position in which one is without bias or
prejudice. The position is concerned with reality rather than
perceptions or feelings.
- obstruction
Any philosophical condition in which a hindrance is blocking
progress or development on a moral issue.
- paradox
An apparent illogical statement that at first appears to be
contradictory may be true or false.-
- paternalism
The practice of governing or monitoring adult individuals in a
manner that suggests a father/child relationship. The practice is
ethically violates an adult's status as an autonomous moral agent.-
- pedagogy
The educational study that is directed toward the art or science
of teaching.-
- philosophy
The deliberate and rational attempt to understand the whole and
the sum of one's objective and subjective experiences with a view
for effective living.
- pragmatism
The practice of testing validity of all concepts by their
practical results.-
- prejudice
A preconceived, usually unfavorable, idea or opinion which is
biased and intolerant.-
- principle
A written affirmation on one's values. Always written in the
negative, a principle states what one will not do, based on what
morally values. If one values honesty, the principle becomes, "Do
not lie, cheat, or steal". Principles do have exceptions or
qualifiers. For example if a principle violates another principle,
qualifiers may exists. "Do not lie, cheat, or steal, unless doing so
places another human being in personal jeopardy."-
- proscriptive rules
Game rules that expressly forbid specific actions.
-
relative worth
The individual importance placed on some intrinsic or extrinsic
object, experience, or person.-
- relativism
The popular position that states either that (1) there is no
standard of right and wrong, (2) no one has the right to make moral
judgments, (3) right and wrong is unknowable because of different
societies and cultures, and (4) no one should judge others
concerning right and wrong.-
- respect
The moral value in which one holds someone or something in high
regard.-
- responsibility
The moral value in which one is answerable, accountable and
possibly liable for actions in the past, present, and future. A
statement of character that one is trustworthy to carry out deeds.-
- reversibility
The moral perspective of placing the onus of on oneself. It is
asking the question, "What would it feel like if this was done to
you?" Reversibility in common usage is "The golden rule."-
-
- rules
Individual day-to-day moral guidelines which can be written or
unwritten by the individual. Rules are usually or should be based on
specific FIRST rules, or principles. Rules are divided into three
different types: constitutive rules, proscriptive rules, and
sportsmanship rules. Constitutive rules are those rules that guide
play within a specific game. Proscriptive rules are game rules that
expressly forbid specific actions. Sportsmanship rules are rules of
conduct that are to be followed while in the game and out of the
game.
-
situational ethics
The position that every ethical or moral decision is made on the
spot and no consistency is shown between individual decision.
- skepticism
The doctrine that the truth of all knowledge must always be in
question or doubt.-
- spirit of a rule
Usually refers to the intent of a sportsmanship rule or what was
what was intended by the rule. No rule can take into consideration
all possibilities, hence the spirit of a rule is to cover the
possibilities.
- sports
Games and activities directed toward the play experience in
which organization and rules play a significant role.-
- sportsmanship
The quality inherent in playing a game in which one is honor
bound to follow the spirit and letter of the rules. Sportsmanship
rules are rules of conduct, explicitly written or implicitly
believed, that adhere to this principle.
- syllogism
Reasoning in which a logical conclusion is drawn from two
premises and a logical conclusion is drawn from them.
teleological ethics
(Consequential) - Matters of right and wrong are decided on the
issue of the greater amount of good.
-
- universality
An ethical perspective in which decisions are decided based on
whether the decision can be applied across all societies and
cultures in every instance.
- utilitarianism
Mill's perspective on teleological ethics in which ethical
questions are decided on the amount of good generated by the
decision. Usually stated as: The greatest amount of measurable good
for the greatest number of people.
value
Individual relative worth placed on some intrinsic or extrinsic
object, experience, or persons.-
- validity
A measurement of sound reasoning whereby consistent, impartial,
and reflective logic is the standard.-
- violence
Physical Force exerted for the purpose of injuring another.
- virtue
The quality of living by one's stated moral values. A person has
virtue if they are fair, honest, responsible, and beneficent.
Back to Top
Back to Top
|
