chetan2u
An amateur athletic team has the following requirement: "Each athlete who fails to return to his or her designated room prior to a designated time will be suspended for the next athletic event." The requirement was violated by the team's best athlete on the night before a prominent athletic event.
Assistant Coach A: The only reason to not suspend the athlete is if the athlete broke the requirement because of factors outside the athlete's control. Since that was not the reason, no exception should be made for this athlete.
Assistant Coach B: I know that we would normally punish the athlete with a suspension, but doing so in this case would harm the team. I think we should punish the athlete in another way that would not harm the team.
Select for
Supports Assistant Coach A the principle that most strongly supports the reasoning expressed by Assistant Coach A, and select for
Supports Assistant Coach B the principle that most strongly supports the reasoning expressed by Assistant Coach B. Make only two selections, one in each column.
Here is how I would solve it:
Requirement: "Each athlete who returns late, will be suspended for the next event."
The requirement was violated by the team's best athlete on the night before a prominent athletic event.
Coach A: The only reason to not suspend the athlete is if the athlete broke the requirement because of factors outside the athlete's control. Since that was not the reason, no exception should be made for this athlete.He is saying that if the athlete could have adhered to the requirement, then he should be suspended (the designated punishment)
Only exception - Factors beyond his control - say traffic jams or some other disruption
Coach B: I know that we would normally punish the athlete with a suspension, but doing so in this case would harm the team. I think we should punish the athlete in another way that would not harm the team.He is saying that we should make an exception here since it will harm the team. The desginated punishment should be given only when it doesn't harm the team.
We need a general principle for each. Let's look at the options:
Amateur athletic teams should not punish elite team members who break team requirements.NO one says no punishment. So ignore.
The punishment of a team member for breaking a team requirement should be based on the likely outcomes for the team rather than the punishment specified for breaking the requirement.Correct. Coach B does say that the punishment should depend on the impact on the team, not the punishment designated.
The punishment specified for breaking a team requirement should always be administered in order to ensure that all team members are treated equallyNo coach says "specified punishment should always be administered." Coach A also gives an exception.
If an athlete is reasonably able to fulfill a team requirement, then the punishment specified for breaking the requirement should be administered.Correct. Coach A says that if the athlete could have fulfilled the requirement, then the desginated punishment should be given.
If a punishment of a team member specified by a team requirement would harm the team, then the team member should not be punished.No one says don't punish. Both agree that some punishment must be given.