Paternalism, Blood Sports and The Right To Fight.
Author
Giampalma, Joseph
Date
2014Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
In this paper, I have discussed the principle of paternalism regarding the participation of
adults and children in blood sports, such as boxing and mixed martial arts. Blood sports, in
their current form, provide a risk of brain damage to athletes through head punches and
the knock out rule. Consequently athletes are at risk of brain damage and in turn loss of
their individual autonomy. I have argued that individual autonomy is an important human
right that should be protected. This has led me to conclude that head punches ought to be
prohibited as this would eliminate the risk of loss of autonomy. I also contend that age is
not a sufficient reason to restrict someone’s liberty. I argue that lack of competence and
voluntariness provides a more convincing rationale for acting paternalistically. Therefore,
children who display sufficient amounts of competence and voluntariness do have a right
to individual autonomy and should not be subject to interference on paternalistic grounds.
However, I argue an exception to this regarding participation in blood sports. Pre-emptive
paternalism ought to be employed as to protect future autonomy and the child’s right to an
open future. Blood sports provide an environment where participants are required to try
and debilitate their opponents and cause and subjected to, at least short term brain
damage. I argue blood sports, in their current form, inhibit a child’s right to an open future.
Overall I conclude that the knock out rule ought to be prohibited in order to remove the risk
of loss of individual autonomy from the sports.
Description
DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS)
SPORT AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
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