Disembodied Sport: Ethical Issues of Virtual Sport, Electronic Games and Virtual Leisure - Abstract

This abstract was presented at the Sports, Persons, and Bodies International Conference in conjunction with the 27th Annual Meeting of the International Association for the Philosophy Sport, Bedford, 29 September - 03 October 1999.

Keywords
Virtual sport, simulation, ethics, morality, equality. Abstract

This paper concentrates in largest part on a review of a number of the moral issues surrounding particular types of virtual sport and related phenomena.

Adverse environmental impacts of conventional sports are contrasted with the environmental impacts of virtual sports, while the possibility of real sport allowing the experience of the natural is contrasted with the impossibility of virtual sport doing the same.

The possibility that virtual sport can promote equality though widening access to the experience of competition is considered. Two virtual mechanisms by which this might be achieved are suggested. The first is the use of information and communications technologies to bring the experience of competition to isolated individuals. The second mechanism is allowing participation on 'a level playing field' for those who because of their build would be severely disadvantaged in many sports. This can be achieved either through explicit compensation for the nature of their build or alternatively through the selection of input devices that make many aspects of physique irrelevant. These equality-promoting possibilities are contrasted with the equality-inhibiting cost implications of virtual sport, and the possibility that virtual sport will be a pseudo-sport impoverished by the removal of genuine human contact and impoverished by a restricted relationship to the body.

Issues of danger and safety are looked at, because virtual sport provides a safer environment for the practice of many sports than conventional arenas. Against this, there may be encouragement to transfer riskier strategies to conventional sport. Other possible risks are considered.

Other issues in the use of simulators to train for conventional sport are covered, including the possibility of providing deeper understanding of sporting practice and technique (and associated risks that what appears to be deeper understanding is, in reality, deeper misunderstanding).

Issues of the overall moral justification of sport are briefly reviewed with particular reference to virtual sport. Amongst these issues are relaxation and exercise as sources of refreshment, pleasure produced, and the possibility of a morally educative effect.

Overall, the conclusion of the paper is that virtual sports have both moral advantages and disadvantages that mean that their adoption should be treated with care, but where such care is taken, they probably enable modest net moral gains.