Last week, we looked at prisoners and self-ownership. We concluded that because prisoners consciously make the decisions that result in their incarceration, they maintain their self-ownership, even though they concede many of the freedoms and responsibilities that accompany it. However, we see this idea of voluntarily limiting self-ownership in many areas outside of prison as well, particularly in the world of professional sports. Athletes often sign contracts that restrict their personal freedoms in exchange for career opportunities and financial gain. These contracts might dictate how they train, which endorsements they can accept, and even what behavior is acceptable on and off the field.

A notable example is former New York Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett, whose contract included a prohibition against engaging in activities deemed risky, such as skydiving. This clause aimed to prevent injuries that could compromise his performance and the team’s investment. While these terms place real limits on their autonomy, the athletes still fundamentally own themselves. They’ve chosen, of their own free will, to enter an agreement that trades certain freedoms for benefits.

They choose to accept these limits on themselves, similar to how prisoners freely choose to open themselves up to the limits of incarceration. According to The Jeffersonian, “freedom results when one no longer agrees to blindly participate in the consciousness that society has prescribed for him.” In both of these scenarios (prisoners and professional athletes), the individual is not blindly following social rules but is instead consciously choosing a path that comes with consequences or restrictions.

In conclusion, since athletes consciously make the decisions that result in their restrictions, they maintain their self-ownership, even though they concede many of the freedoms and responsibilities that accompany it.