Final answer:
The statement that philosophical principles are often tested when coaches respond to new situations is true. Coaches may face ethical dilemmas akin to thought experiments that philosophers use to clarify concepts, requiring the application of philosophical reasoning and critical thinking.
Step-by-step explanation:
Philosophical principles are often tested when coaches must respond in situations they have never faced before. This statement is true. In philosophy, concepts and arguments are typically examined through the use of hypothetical scenarios or thought experiments, which serve to isolate and clarify relationships between concepts. This is true for all philosophical concepts, including those related to ethics, morality, and human behavior that coaches might encounter.
An example of this can be seen with philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, who historically used thought experiments to better understand the connections and logical consequences of concepts. Similarly, when coaches face new situations, they need to apply their core principles in ways they have not before, which essentially amounts to a practical thought experiment.
For instance, a philosopher might pose scenarios to research subjects to examine the philosophical claim about moral responsibility and free will, and a coach could find themselves in a real-world scenario having to make a call that challenges their understanding of these same principles. The need for critical thinking and philosophical reasoning is crucial in these situations.