Boxing and philosophy?

[Linguo]

Interesting little article:

Boxing and the Cool Halls of Academe (http://chronicle.com/free/v50/i49/49b00501.htm)

I think alot of what is said could apply to many martial arts.

a little snippet below


I countered that if violence is defined as purposefully hurting another person, then I had seen enough of that in the philosophical arena to last a lifetime. At the university where I did my graduate studies, colloquia were nothing less than academic gunfights in which the goal was to fire off a question that would sink the lecturer low. I pointed out, "I've even seen philosophers have to restrain themselves from clapping at a comment that knocked a speaker off his pins and made him feel stupid." I followed up by arguing that getting and taking punches makes you feel safer in the world, and that people who do not feel easily threatened are generally less threatening. She wasn't buying any of it. Then I made the mistake of making myself an object lesson by noting that I had boxed for years and still seemed to be able to put my thoughts together. That earned me a smile and a pat on the wrist.

[Fallacio]

Good stuff.

This article needs to be rammed down the throat of ever intellectual and kung fu magnate that looks down their nose at boxing.

[ap Oweyn]

Nice!

I also think that boxing gives a good background in morality because it gives you a sense of the consequences that you just don't get in light sparring. In boxing, even when you win, you're acutely aware of the price you paid to get there. You won, but you've still got bruised ribs and a black eye. So you understand both what it means to cause harm and be harmed. That gives, to my mind, a deeper perspective on violence than light sparring does.


Stuart

[JKD guy]

Very true. The last couple times I boxed (actually, it should have been sparring, but degenerated into fighting due to a lack of supervision) I ended up either hurting someone, or being hurt. I once gave a guy a black eye through his headgear (don't ask me how). Later, I broke my own hand.

It really does let you see and feel the costs of violence. On the other hand, if you want to "scrap" without going to jail or being sued, there is no better way. ;-)