Philosophers Philosophies

Surely, there are dozens of highly regarded and studied philosophies that tend to fall under the heading of Philosophy.  There are clear overlaps and distinctions between these various approaches to life.  Some are contradictory, while others can work seamlessly together.  Whether or not one adopts a particular perspective on life depends to some degree on the environment they find themselves.  And, even that idea falls under a specific philosophy.

I thought it might be fun to examine a handful of these philosophies, by giving a short definition, a philosophical representative, a quote from that representative, and a short application of that position to the realm of climbing.  While this list is not close to being exhaustive, there is some variety, and perhaps you’ll identify more readily to some over others.

1. Transcendentalism = Emphasizes the inherent goodness of people and nature, prioritizing self-reliance, intuition, and spiritual independence over societal conformity.
   • Philosopher: Henry David Thoreau
   • Quote: “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach.”
   • Climbing: This separates the gym climber from the rock climber; there is more to climbing than the climb!
2. Hedonism = Argues that pleasure (specifically the absence of pain and anxiety) is the highest good and the proper aim of human life.
   • Philosopher: Epicurus
   • Quote: “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
   • Climbing: We all want to climb the next grade, but don’t let that overshadow the work you put in to attain the grade you are now sending.
3. Skepticism = Maintains that absolute knowledge is impossible, advocating for the suspension of judgment to achieve mental tranquility.
   • Philosopher: Sextus Empiricus
   • Quote: “The skeptic’s end is quietude in matters of opinion and moderate feeling in things unavoidable.”
   • Climbing: Can we find peace on the wall?  I don’t know?  Can we at least find the wall?  Again, I’m not sure?
4. Stoicism = Focuses on mastering personal judgment, practicing self-control, and accepting external realities out of your control.
   • Philosopher: Marcus Aurelius
   • Quote: “You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
   • Climbing: You can’t choose whether or not you will fall, but you can choose to accept it!
5. Existentialism = Argues that existence precedes essence, meaning humans must create their own identity and purpose in a world lacking inherent meaning.
   • Philosopher: Jean-Paul Sartre
   • Quote: “Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.”
   • Climbing: What makes a person a climber?  That is up to them!
6. Nihilism = Rejects traditional notions of objective meaning and universality, leaving room to forge independent values in a blank reality.
   • Philosopher: Friedrich Nietzsche (Sort of)
   • Quote: “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”
   • Climbing: If all you want to do is get to the top, then whether you climb a 5.8 or a 5.15 makes no difference.
7. Empiricism = Maintains that all ideas and knowledge originate strictly through sensory data and direct observation of the physical world.
   • Philosopher: John Locke
   • Quote: “No man’s knowledge here can go beyond his experience.”
   • Climbing: You may hear the beta, but you won’t know the beta until after the climb.
8. Taoism = Emphasizes living in complete harmony with the natural rhythm of the universe by letting things happen without artificial forcing.
   • Philosopher: Lao-Tzu
   • Quote: “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
   • Climbing: Maybe don’t bolt that route!
9. Buddhism = Centers on overcoming the intrinsic suffering of human life by conquering personal attachment, desire, and ignorance through deep mindfulness.
   • Philosopher: Gautama Buddha
   • Quote: “The mind is everything. What you think you become.”
   • Climbing: I am a rock!
10. Relativism = Asserts that points of view, experience, truth, have no absolute value, existing only in relation to culture, society, or historical context.
    • Philosopher: Protagoras
    • Quote: “Man is the measure of all things: of things which are, that they are, and of things which are not, that they are not.”
    • Climbing: Grades are subjective, if you think a route is soft, then it’s soft for you, and if you think a grade is hard, then it is hard for you!