Neuroethics

, Volume 8, Issue 1, pp 47–53 | Cite as

State of the Concussion Debate: From Sceptical to Alarmist Claims

Original Paper
First Online:
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Abstract

Current discussions about concussion in sport are based on a crucial epistemological question: whether or not we should believe that repetitive mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) causes Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). This epistemological question is essential to understanding the ethics at stake in treating these cases: indeed, certain moral obligations turn on whether or not we believe that mTBI causes CTE. After discussing the main schools of thought, namely the CTE-sceptic position (which does not admit a causal relation between mTBI and CTE) and the CTE-orthodox position (as defended by those who see a causal association between mTBI and CTE), this article examines the concussion debate in sport and asks if its current articulation helps to answer whether or not we should call for responsive, ethical action(s).

Keywords

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy Concussion Epistemology Ethics Mild traumatic brain injury Policy 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

Fondation Brocher for its hospitality. ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), Project ID: CE140100012.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Ethics, Policy & Public Engagement (EPE), ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES)Faculty of Arts, University of TasmaniaHobartAustralia

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