Sports and Competition
Davide Sciarabba
Sports and Competition in Higher Education: A Search for Values and Ethics*
The issue of competition in sports is controversial in certain philosophies of education, especially among the more conservative, often religious, educators. Some understand competition negatively, as opposed to ideal human solidarity, and therefore argue that the practice of sports conveys dangerous attitudes of violence, pride, selfishness, etc. Others view competition positively, as a realistic preparation for life, and see in sports a treasure of educational values such as fair play, spirit of unity, team work, etc. This paper is written from the humanistic perspective of a holistic anthropology. It is my contention that sports of competition can be negative or positive for the personal education of our youth, depending on the way one decides to approach them. A key role is played by the professionals who work in student services, namely educators, trainers, and coaches of sport activities. Those who discern the moral risks of sports activities related to a high level of competition suggest that it is time to provide a human -and even a spiritual- frame of reference to sports activities so that they do not dehumanize athletes. There are important values that the athletes can learn from the practice of sports. If we focus their attention on the way they compete, rather than just on the results or on their personal glory, we may help them to consolidate a coherent ethical behavior. Sports competition can be a powerful stimulus to individual growth, a positive contribution to creating community, and a valuable tool to teach personal, professional, and social ethics to this and future generations.
*Paper presented at the session on “Sport and Culture” at the Oxford Roundtable, Harris Manchester College, Oxford, England, July, 2012.