quo.ti.di.an

the mind-body divide

I would prefer to watch the Olympics without the constant references to Michael Phelps.  There are several thousand other athletes competing in the Olympics, and many of them interview a lot better than he does.

At this point, it is indisputable that Michael Phelps is consistently the fastest swimmer at the Olympics, and it’s even become a little boring to watch him race.  I respect that he works so hard at swimming, but I think the way the media and public have been fetishizing him is disgusting.  I especially had a problem when NBC claimed that Phelps was the fastest AND hardest working swimmer.  Since NBC has neither been to all of Phelps’ practices nor performed any sort of physiological testing that shows how hard his body is working, I don’t think they should make such a strong claim.  Then again, I could have just missed the memo that those who are the best at something inherently work the hardest.

Everyone is watching the Olympics, and NBC boasts each day about how many viewers it had the previous night.  I’m guilty too; I have been watching the games.  However, what I don’t understand is why we applaud those who physically succeed, yet that same sense of appreciation is not given to those who have exhibited intellectual success.  Just as there is an economic market for athletes in the public eye, there is an economic market for public intellectuals.  However, we admire athletes, and to a much lesser extent, we appreciate public intellectuals; I seriously doubt any intellectual is making as much money as Phelps is making this year.  It seems almost primitive to value the physical exponentially more than the mental, even though we still operate on that basic assumption that our ability to reason separates us from beasts.

I assume that there comes a point in life when it is useless to take any more classes; some might even argue that a liberal arts degree is entirely useless.  Does it make any earthly difference whether one understands the philosophical and scientific underpinnings of Goethe’s writings?  Perhaps not.  I recognize that is a selfish enterprise to become well-versed in esotericism.  That being said, I think it is just as pointless and meaningless to be a phenomenal athlete as it is to know about love in the twelfth century or to read Don Quixote.