Thierry Long

Institutionalization versus Self-Regulation: A Contextual Analysis of Responsibility among Adolescent Sportsmen.

The present study, which sought to analyse adolescent sportsmens representations of responsibility, was mainly guided by the philosophical literature on this topic. A body of literature suggests that the contextual factors of sport practice, particularly regarding the rules that regulate play, may have a key role in the building of such representations. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with two groups of 18 teenagers: one group of institutionalised athletes (who played soccer or basketball in a structured and official context) and one group of self‐organised athletes (who played the same sports in a self‐regulated context). The qualitative analysis showed that the institutionalised players described responsibility in functional terms; this result was explained by the rigid characteristics of their context of practice, which was based on task division and performance. In contrast, the self‐organised players described responsibility in moral terms; this result was explained by an open context of practice based on interaction. The overall results of our study raise questions about the educational capacity of institutionalised sport and the objective conditions that promote the social and moral development of young people.

Mountain guides: between ethics and socioeconomic trends

This study analysed mountain guides’ representations of environmental responsibility and explored the paradox that these professionals face: using nature as a source of income while trying to preserve it. The study was mainly guided by the philosophical literature on this topic and made use of the concepts of sustainable development and nature. This exploratory work therefore contributes to the new field of environmental social psychology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and the qualitative analysis showed that mountain guides have a very sensitive and contemplative approach to moral aspects of our relationship with nature, which they try to transmit to their clients. They believe that this is a way to educate people about sustainable development, but this term emerged as quite vague for them, and they expressed the opinion that it might hide other concerns, such as to make translating it into moral conduct a difficult matter and to compromise their identity as moral actors.

Environmental Ethics as Applied to Outdoor Physical Practices: An Analysis Through the Lens of Hans Jonas

Abstract In times of social and moral crises, sport has often been called to boost individual moral development. By the same token, outdoor activities are viewed as good educational practices to enhance environmental responsibility. However, the present paper argues that these physical activities are currently following the same technological development trend as the mainstream society, and challenges this trend itself in terms of sustainability by critically asking this question: Do outdoor activities really enhance environmental responsibility? The research supporting this paper is based on a qualitative inquiry using interviews with outdoor activities practitioners: mountain guides and white water sports instructors. The findings of this research show that environmental responsibility development depends on the sport contexts. It is fostered in slow and none-technological activities (e.g. trekking) and lowered in fast and technological activities (e.g. canoeing, kayaking). The paper concludes with the following paradox reached by the preliminary research results: the birth of modern technology calls for greater need of environmental responsibility, but it may also prevent its development at the same time.