Determinism versus the free will debate has important implications for ethics. The trend toward seeing forces outside our control as responsible for our actions has contributed to relabeling behaviors and have enabled people to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. One of the most famous incidents was that of Penn State University Football coach, Jerry Sandusky. Many other similar incidents of sexual abuse in sports have been in the news, worldwide, in recent years. Some perpetrators, like Sandusky, seem to rationalize their behavior as a kind of camaraderie, rather than abuse. Some research suggests that the “culture” of sports makes abuse inevitable, and that perpetrators are often excused and tolerated to keep scandals from damaging the sports entities and iinstitutions in a culture where sports are revered.
After watching and/or reading the brief resources below, address the following question in a short essay:
Can cultural relativism be used to excuse behavior that harms others?
Reference the some specifics in the resources below, as it relates to the material in Chapter 3 as part of your discussion.
Coached into Silence: Protecting Institutions, Sacrificing Children
Sports Standing in Society Causes Abuse ?
Sexual Abuse of Boys in Sports:Does Sports Culture Itself Play a role?
Coaching Gives Abusers Opportunity and Trust
Sample Solution
