The College at Brockport: State University of New York Digital Commons @Brockport Kinesiology, Sport Studies and Physical Education Presentations and Papers Kinesiology, Sport Studies and Physical Education 7-11-2014 Utilitarian Moral Theory: Parallels between a Sport Organization and Society Robert C. Schneider The College at Brockport, rschneid@brockport.edu Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/pes_confpres Part of the Kinesiology Commons, and the Sports Sciences Commons Repository Citation Schneider, Robert C., "Utilitarian Moral Theory: Parallels between a Sport Organization and Society" (2014). Kinesiology, Sport Studies and Physical Education Presentations and Papers. 9. http://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/pes_confpres/9 This Presentation is brought to you for free and open access by the Kinesiology, Sport Studies and Physical Education at Digital Commons @Brockport. It has been accepted for inclusion in Kinesiology, Sport Studies and Physical Education Presentations and Papers by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @Brockport. For more information, please contact kmyers@brockport.edu.
Utilitarian Moral Theory: Parallels between a Sport Organization and Society Dr. Robert C. Schneider Sport Management Program Director Friday, July 11 th, 8:30; (8:30-10:00 Session) Venue: Qiu De Ba Gymnasium Room: 151
Utilitarian Moral Theory: Parallels between a Sport Organization and Society Continued Calling: Sport Organization & Society Morality (Required for Healthy Function) Transfer Utilitarian Based Sport Organ. Behaviors to Society Stake Highest in Society
Utilitarian Moral Theory as a Guide Sport Organization & Societal Policy Guided by: Mill s Greatest Happiness Principle Bentham s Hedonic Calculus Hume s View on Sentiment
Utilitarianism = Most Happiness = Morally Good (Mill, 1863; Bentham, 1789/1961) John Stuart Mill Jeremy Bentham David Hume 4
Mill s Greatest Happiness Principle Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness (Mill, 1863/1969, p. 36). Right Wrong 5
Mill s Greatest Happiness Principle The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals utility or the greatest happiness principle holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain and the [dep]privation of pleasure. (Mill, 1863/1969, p. 36) Burton (1962) stated: That is useful which, taking all times and all persons into consideration, leaves a balance of happiness; and, the creation of the largest possible balance of happiness 6
Jeremy Bentham Nature has placed mankind under two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure (Bentham, p. 17) 7
David Hume Passion Drives Reason Innovation Stirring: Passion, Sentiments, Feelings? 8
Ethical Grounding for Betterment, Sustainability, and Improved Society Reciprocal Learning: Sport Organ. & Society Not a Solution: A Tool to Improve Sport Organization Easily Dissected Utilitarian Based Insights (Collective Happiness)Transferred to Society
Ethical Grounding for Betterment, Sustainability, and Improved Society (cont d) Utilitarian Grounded Societies Support Cooperative International Goal Achievement Societal Goal = Happiness; International Cooperation Morally Global Society Requires Cooperation
Societal/World Challenges
Identifying Commonalities among Cultural Differences Tolerance & Sensitivity: A Step Toward Utilitarian Moral Good Putting Aside Race, Religion, Attitudes Sport: For Winning Society: For Global Good?
Identifying Commonalities among Cultural Differences Utilitarian Moral Good Fostered through Creation of Commonalities (sport) Sport: Brings People & Nations Together e.g., World Cup, Tour de France, Olympics
Identifying Commonalities among Cultural Differences Overcoming Overt and Subconscious Cultural Biases? Common Core Moral Values Among Diversity Can common sport experiences help? e.g., Final Four Commonality; NBA Globalization: Merging of Culturally Different Societies Sport: Merges Culturally Different Athletes
Sensitivity and Tolerance Supported by Education Utilitarianism in Society: Tolerance of Cultural Differences End Goal: Humanities Want of Happiness Globalization: Understanding Societies Beyond One s Own (Brodin, 2010)
Sensitivity and Tolerance Supported by Education (cont d) Achieving through: Disciplined Behavior Subconscious Selfish Desires Put Aside Softening of Differences: Immersion Into Different Culture (Redden, 2010) e.g., Internships Abroad Education
Transitioning Commonalities into Tolerance to Cultural Differences Immersion into Different Cultures Require: Open Mindedness Contemplation of Similarities and Dissimilarities (Leung, Maddux, Galinsky, Chiu, & 2008) Team Sports: Emerges Persons Beyond Isolated States Reduce Isolated States through Common Goals
Transitioning Commonalities into Tolerance to Cultural Differences (cont d) Within and Across Societies, Identify Commonalities Fully Removing Cultural Differences: Naive Giving Up Cultural Identity Contradicts Utilitarianism Leadership Cannot Force
Yesterday s Panel Discussion Going Outside of Discipline (Remove Isolationism) Theme of Cooperation Among 4 Universities Mingling Different Cultures
Why We Need Social Theory to Understand Sport Mega Events (Keynote, Susan Brownell) Some Notes: OLYMPIC GAMES (Huge Party) (Hosting Platform) Disseminating Chinese Culture Cross Cultural Communications Bilateral Meeting Between Leadership Closer to World Peace (a Format) Heads of Multinational Corporate Leaders Entertainment & Hospitality Industry Politics Rituals and Social Solidarity Shared Members in Community Global community requires global rituals and symbols forging national identities into global identities.
Leading with Beauchamp s (1982) Common Sense, Habits, and Past Experience Arriving Most Happiness: common sense, habits, and past experiences choose actions eliciting most happiness (Beauchamp, 1982) Societal Utilitarianism: respect common core values of peoples, understanding past experiences; choose actions
Realistic Moral Expectations Wholesale Attitude or Cultural Changes: Unrealistic Extreme Changes: Unhappiness Disingenuous Compromise: Unhappiness Utilitarianism: Consciousness of Compromise and Happiness
Realistic Moral Expectations Recall: Bentham s Hedonic Calculus Respect (not necessarily accept) Cultural Differences Attitudes, Beliefs, Customs, Religions Respectfully Tolerate One Another s Cultural Differences
References (Incomplete) Beauchamp, T.L. (1982). Mill and utilitarian theories (pp. 71-106). In T.L. Beauchamp, Philosophical ethics: An introduction to moral philosophy. New York: McGraw-Hill. Bentham, J. (1789/1961). An introduction to the principles of morals and legislation. In Utilitarianism (pp. 7-398). Garden City, NY: Doubleday. Brodin, J. (2010). Education for global competencies. Journal of Studies in International Education, 14(5), 569-584. doi:10.1177/1028315309343616 Leung, A.K., Maddux, W.W., Galinsky, A.D., & Chiu, C. (2008). Multicultural experience enhances creativity: The when and how. American Psychologist, 63(3), 169-181. doi:10.1037/0003-066x.63.3.169 Mill, J.S. (1863/1969). Utilitarianism. In J.M. Smith & E. Sosa (Eds.), Mill s Utilitarianism (pp. 31-88). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Redden, E. (2010, July 13). Academic outcomes of study abroad. Inside Higher Education. Retrieved from http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/07/13/abroad Reimers, F. M. (2009). Global competency. Harvard International Review, 30(4), 24-27. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
END Utilitarian Moral Theory: Parallels between a Sport Organization and Society Robert C. Schneider The College at Brockport, State University of New York