Deception in Sport: A New Taxonomy of Intra-Lusory Guiles

Abstract

Almost four decades ago, Kathleen Pearson examined deceptive practices in sport using a distinction between strategic and definitional deception. However, the complexity and dynamic nature of sport is not limited to this dual-categorization of deceptive acts and there are other features of deception in sport unaccounted for in Pearson's constructs. By employing Torres’s elucidation of the structure of skills and Suits's concept of the lusory-attitude, a more thorough taxonomy of in-contest sport deception will be presented. Despite the ubiquitous presence of deception in sport, few scholars have examined this concept in the sport philosophy literature since Pearson’s contribution. This paper hopes to advance a deeper understanding of deceptive practices in competitive sport and also comment on the ethical permissibility of certain sport skills from a moral perspective.

Keywords:

• deception
• intra-lusory
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr. Cesar Torres for his initial inquiry and encouragement of pursuit into the deception of sport. Without his intuition and scholarly advice, this manuscript would not have been possible.

Notes

1. Throughout the analysis, we presuppose a broad internalist perspective. We hold that this is vital in order to fully advocate our argument and understanding as well as sponsor the typology/taxonomy presented in our review.

2. Our dialogue on intentionality is a key component in the determination of deception in sport. Although some deceptive acts are claimed to be accidental by the committing participant and do mislead an opponent, we hold that in order to maintain the connection or lack of connection to skills, intention must be present for the deceiver. Furthermore, we aim to uphold the examined definitions of deception presented in this review.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Adam G. Pfleegor

Adam G. Pfleegor, The Louisiana State University, School of Kinesiology, 112 Huey P. Long Field House, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.

Danny Roesenberg

Danny Rosenberg, Brock University, Department of Kinesiology, 500 Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2S 3A1, Canada.