ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses an attempt to exemplify the notion of phronesis or practical wisdom that Aristotle thought was at the heart of ethics, conceived of as a practical activity central to living a good human life in general, and good sports medicine practice. It considers 'ethics' to refer to the philosophical study of morality, ethical theorizing, and the social scientific study of morality in particular settings. The chapter examines the deontological family of theories namely: duty theory; rights theory and then the teleological families of theories: consequentialism, specifically utilitarian theory and virtue theory. It talks about the conceptual and ethical aspects of a much-neglected condition in sports medicine, eating disorders. This chapter argues that moral theories are necessary to combat subjectivism or relativism in our approach to ethical issues in sports medicine, indeed regarding the ethical nature of sports medicine itself.
