Abstract
The ‘spirit of the game’ is a concept familiar to fans of sport. It is prima facie the underlying ethic that athletes should adhere to for their sport to be played in the ‘right’ way. While the spirit of the game is a term used by athletes and fans alike, there is some ambiguity in what actions are in keeping with its principles, and indeed what the concept actually means. This ambiguity is problematic, since it gives rise to disagreements regarding whether athletes are abiding by this often unwritten and informal ethical framework. The primary aim of my thesis is thus to answer the question: What are the principles that constitute the spirit of the game? And to consider its implications. I provide clarity on the concept in a novel way by applying the normativist concept of formalism in the philosophy of sport, and the resultant analysis of the spirit of the game to different acts of cheating. Finally, in considering the impact of technology on the future of professional sport, I look at the influence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on sport and the spirit of the game.