Pragmatic Conventionalism and Sport Normativity in the Face of Intractable Dilemmas

Abstract

We build on Morgan’s deep conventionalist base by offering a pragmatic approach (‘transitionalism’) for achieving normative progress on sports most intractable problems (e.g. performance enhancement restrictions, collision sport dangers, competitive classification discord). Our account picks up where Morgan suggests disparate normative communities 'default' to inferior yet functionally 'pragmatic' resolutions to conflict. Pragmatic resolutions, we contend, offer normative substance by providing the means to move beyond intellectual stalemates by re-orientating our normative efforts relative to the three cornerstones of Morgan’s deep conventionalism: the nature and status of different sporting conventions; the difference between conflicts of an ‘intramural’ and ‘extramural’ kind; and what constitutes a resolution to sporting disagreements.