Existential Hill walking and other intellectual pursuits

Bob C

20/05/2006 at 01:23

I think that we, as a group of ragged and rugged hill walkers, often take ourselves too seriously. I'd like us to inject some lightness into our lives and begin a discussion on existence and the relevance of God, as applied to any aspects of outdoor pursuits.

I am a great believer in the work of Kierkegaard and have done most of his mountain bike routes in the Yorkshire Dales. We are hoping to follow in the footsteps of Jean-Paul Sartre tomorrow and run along Fremington Edge, and perhaps on Sunday examine how Heidegger has bridged the gap between postmodernism and fell running. It looks like being a great weekend, full of the joys of discovery.

John Bailey

20/05/2006 at 02:20

I don't hold with all this new fangled existentialism. I'd much prefer to follow the Peripatetics, in particular Theophrastus whose novel treatment of the meths watering conundrum seems quite fresh to this day.

jonno

20/05/2006 at 10:19

lol

ptc*

20/05/2006 at 10:32

My weekend is still sitting at the lights, but at least the engine is running.
Finish coffee, fill Source bladder, leave house.
The philosophy which I apply to my outdoor activities, and indeed life on this virtual world of imaginary people, is somewhere between Hanna Barbera and Hammer Horror. I draw from the strengths of both opposing disciplines and cast their weaknesses to the snarling dogs of sensebility where the are sniffed at enthusiasticaly, but surprisingly remain uneaten.

Metric Kate

20/05/2006 at 11:35

FBPP, are you proposing something along the lines of this?

However, I'm with Archimedes who proved the restorative powers of a nice hot soak in the bath after a long day on the hills.

Edited: 20/05/2006 at 11:36

Graham

20/05/2006 at 11:57

Homer occasionally got it right

Metric Kate

20/05/2006 at 12:09

^^ maybe, but Odysseus would have failed his ML quals - carelessly lost all the group he was leading, took 10 years on a journey that should have taken a few months, and his navigation...!

Matt C

20/05/2006 at 12:24

And as for that Moses chap - didn't he know that burning bushes is not an acceptable way to reconstitute his Wayfayrer lamb curry, and removing stone tablets from mountainsides is near-vandalism and in no way comparable to kicking down superfluous cairns!

Still, I suppose he did have his river-crossing technique sorted...

jonno

20/05/2006 at 12:59

no no no ,Metric Kate ,everyone knows that Demokrit is more of an holding midfield player than a centre forward . The lack of a good manager has resulted in the greek philosophers picking themselves out of position..... Probaly could,nt make up their minds.

Ninja Marmot

20/05/2006 at 13:04

St Thomas Aquinas was a bit wet

Graham

20/05/2006 at 13:09

Mosses was green though, he got all his rabble to walk instead of using easychariot which obviously avoided all those horses producing all those greenhouse gasses. Though he could have escaped in half the time using easychariot ‘and in consequence’ avoided drowning all those Egyptians. Thereby possibly negating the present troubles in the Middle East – think god would have had a quiet word in mosses shell like on that one wouldn’t you.

Homer, your thinking a bout the Greek one aren’t you.

Metric Kate

20/05/2006 at 13:18

yeah, sorry, Graham, were you thinking about the orange one?

Graham

20/05/2006 at 13:34

Ye, mentioning off, promotes inclusion which avoids flame(r)s descending with vengeance

Personally, the orange one gets what he deserves – in a Karma way

Bob C

20/05/2006 at 14:26

Here are my thoughts on the subject.

An individual can have a meaningful life (at least one free of despair) if the individual relates the self in an unconditional commitment to something finite, and devotes his or her life to the commitment despite the inherent vulnerability of doing so.

In other words our ultimate goal is to compare mountain bike routes in both Swaledale and Wensleydale, and to see, if indeed, enlightenment may be gained by such a pursuit.

Graham

20/05/2006 at 14:45

Swaledale and Wensleydale

You Isolationists do like getting yourselves stuck in a valley (or 2)

Jules aka Bat Girl

20/05/2006 at 15:50

I am comming back as a dog, a sheep dog on the lakeland fells owned by a kind old farmer with a wife that spoils me with tid bits and the best warm spot by the aga when he is not looking.

They dont worry about all this stuff, they have no gortex/ e vent dabates, no mountain bikes no platy sacs no kit, they just run up the fells and do their days work for the shear joy of it all.

I think we think too much.

john fitzpatrick 2

20/05/2006 at 16:10

The free sprit is brought is into disrepute,chiefly by scholars who miss their throughness and ant-like industry in his art of regarding things...

Edited: 20/05/2006 at 16:11

Ddyrchafedig Gyrrwr (Beic Modur)

20/05/2006 at 17:16

Sorry, this thread is much too DEEP for me, I'm only a "pretend" intellectual after all !!!!

;-))))

Edited: 20/05/2006 at 17:20

Ddyrchafedig Gyrrwr (Beic Modur)

20/05/2006 at 17:18

BTW Jules, if you think we think too much, do you think we should think less, or would that be too much thinking ????

(I think I thought that out right!)

:-))))

jonno

20/05/2006 at 20:48

think again, Mr. Bond.

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