The Virtue of Aggression in Sport
This paper argues that aggression, while often conflated with violence and harm, is a virtue in sports. We distinguish aggression from violence and assertiveness, exploring its positive moral value within rule-governed contexts. We examine the permissibility of violence in sports, considering consen...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Philosophies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9287/10/2/42 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850143860276068352 |
|---|---|
| author | Samantha Brennan Evan Thomas Knott |
| author_facet | Samantha Brennan Evan Thomas Knott |
| author_sort | Samantha Brennan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper argues that aggression, while often conflated with violence and harm, is a virtue in sports. We distinguish aggression from violence and assertiveness, exploring its positive moral value within rule-governed contexts. We examine the permissibility of violence in sports, considering consent and the public good while acknowledging the potential for harm and the importance of restraint. The paper uses anecdotal evidence and philosophical analysis to support the claim that controlled aggression, a form of self-restraint, is a valuable skill both in and outside of sport. Finally, we explore the relationship between aggression and other virtues like sportsmanship, highlighting the importance of context in evaluating aggressive behaviours. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d4c1977eec684a14844be90a6bdeea7d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2409-9287 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Philosophies |
| spelling | doaj-art-d4c1977eec684a14844be90a6bdeea7d2025-08-20T02:28:33ZengMDPI AGPhilosophies2409-92872025-04-011024210.3390/philosophies10020042The Virtue of Aggression in SportSamantha Brennan0Evan Thomas Knott1Department of Philosophy, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaDepartment of Philosophy, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaThis paper argues that aggression, while often conflated with violence and harm, is a virtue in sports. We distinguish aggression from violence and assertiveness, exploring its positive moral value within rule-governed contexts. We examine the permissibility of violence in sports, considering consent and the public good while acknowledging the potential for harm and the importance of restraint. The paper uses anecdotal evidence and philosophical analysis to support the claim that controlled aggression, a form of self-restraint, is a valuable skill both in and outside of sport. Finally, we explore the relationship between aggression and other virtues like sportsmanship, highlighting the importance of context in evaluating aggressive behaviours.https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9287/10/2/42aggression-as-harmaggression-as-bodily-harmrule-governed-aggressionaggressive maximsunsanctioned violencerule-governed-violence |
| spellingShingle | Samantha Brennan Evan Thomas Knott The Virtue of Aggression in Sport Philosophies aggression-as-harm aggression-as-bodily-harm rule-governed-aggression aggressive maxims unsanctioned violence rule-governed-violence |
| title | The Virtue of Aggression in Sport |
| title_full | The Virtue of Aggression in Sport |
| title_fullStr | The Virtue of Aggression in Sport |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Virtue of Aggression in Sport |
| title_short | The Virtue of Aggression in Sport |
| title_sort | virtue of aggression in sport |
| topic | aggression-as-harm aggression-as-bodily-harm rule-governed-aggression aggressive maxims unsanctioned violence rule-governed-violence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9287/10/2/42 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samanthabrennan thevirtueofaggressioninsport AT evanthomasknott thevirtueofaggressioninsport AT samanthabrennan virtueofaggressioninsport AT evanthomasknott virtueofaggressioninsport |