Greed in the NFL Dispute with Referees
Radio Q&A: 30 September 2012, Question 1
I answered a question on greed in the NFL dispute with referees on 30 September 2012. You can listen to or download the podcast of just this question below – or check out the whole episode of Philosophy in Action Radio.
Were the NFL owners guilty of greed in their dispute with the referees? Until earlier this week, the NFL was in a labor dispute with its referees, and so the first three weeks of games used replacement referees. Those replacements weren't capable of performing up to the standard required in the NFL. Games were rife with missed or wrong calls, dangerously dirty play, and out-of-control fights. Commentators and fans were disgusted and furious, particularly after the touchdown ruling in Monday night's game between the Packers and the Seahawks. That furor seemed to force the NFL's hand. An agreement with the regular referees was reached on Wednesday night. Before that, some people claimed that the NFL owners were motivated by "greed." Is that right? Also, if the NFL hadn't brought back the regular referees, should fans have boycotted games?
My Answer, In Brief: The concept "greed" is not a usable concept: it's hopelessly confused, if not corrupted by altruism. As for the NFL, the owners seem to have been mistaken on several points, but not in the grip of any fever to save a few dollars.
Tags: Business, Ethics, Greed, Long-Range Thinking, Selfishness
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- Duration: 19:28
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Relevant Links
- Philosophy in Action: Talking About Selfishness
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About Philosophy in Action
I'm Dr. Diana Brickell. I'm a philosopher specializing in the application of rational principles to the challenges of real life. I received my Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2009. My book, Responsibility & Luck: A Defense of Praise and Blame, is available for purchase in paperback and Kindle. The book defends the justice of moral praise and blame of persons using an Aristotelian theory of moral responsibility, thereby refuting Thomas Nagel's "problem of moral luck."
My radio show, Philosophy in Action Radio, broadcasts live over the internet on most Sunday mornings and some Thursday evenings. On Sunday mornings, I answer questions applying rational principles to the challenges of real life in a live hour-long show. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers co-hosts the show. On Thursday evenings, I interview an expert guest or discuss a topic of interest.
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