Description
Book SynopsisClimbing- Philosophy for Everyonepresents a collection of intellectually stimulating new essays that address the philosophical issues relating to risk, ethics, and other aspects of climbing that are of interest to everyone from novice climbers to seasoned mountaineers.
- Represents the first collection of essays to exclusively address the many philosophical aspects of climbing
- Includes essays that challenge commonly accepted views of climbing and climbing ethics
- Written accessibly, this book will appeal to everyone from novice climbers to seasoned mountaineers
- Includes a foreword written by Hans Florine
- Shortlisted for the Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature, 2010
Trade Review“This book has enabled me to better understand the passion for exploring rocky heights. …There is a common twine that goes the whole length in Climbing, namely the love each of these authors and the editor have for climbing. If practices flourish primarily because of the dedication and commitment of the communities involved with them, one thing is clear, climbing is a very healthy practice in spite of and thanks to its beautifully inspiring risks, and Climbing is a great contribution to the climbing and philosophical communities.” (Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, 28 February 2012)
"This nonetheless should not serve as a negative commentary on what proves to be a most thoughtful and engaging collection of articles that serve to intellectualize what is thought by many to be a purely adrenaline-fueled endeavor . . If you think, however, that there is no reason for anyone else to climb or that climbing is silly or pointless or just plain crazy, this book just might make you think again." (Aethlon, 1 January 2011)
"The book is a pretty in-depth look at various issues, centring around risk, ethics and other issues. It also includes essays that challenge commonly accepted views of climbing and climbing ethics." (The Philosopher's Eye, 2010)
"Read carefully within the four themed sections; the essays provoke an intellectual frisson rarely elicited by modern climbing literature." (Climbing.com, 2010)
"[Climbing - Philosophy for Everyone: Because It's There] proves to be a most thoughtful and engaging collection of articles that serve to intellectualize what is thought by many to be a purely adrenaline-fueled endeavor." (aethlon, January 2011"If you're interested in why we climb and take risks for what many consider a frivolous activity, then add this book to your holiday gift list. It will provide lots of entertaining reading and spark interesting conversations around the nightly campfire." (About.com, 11 December 2010)
"The authors are both climbers and academics (almost all in philosophy), so the essays ring with rigor and authenticity..... the essays provoke an intellectual frisson rarely elicited by modern climbing literature." (Climbing Magazine, October 2010)
"This has to be the best book I have read on the subject of climbing. Most of the essays are written by seasoned climbers and ... are varied and interesting. Many of the questions put forth are of the moral and ethical reasons for climbing, and they also address many other aspects of the climbing game. The novice climber can definitely benefit from reading this book also as it explores several topics that are not easily found in a text about climbing. I believe that this book will enable all who read it to consider deeply what it is that they are doing while they are climbing and as a result be able to be better climbers not only to the climbing community but will understand their inner motivations about their own climbing." (OregonLive.com, August 2010)
Table of ContentsForeword ix
Hans Florine
Acknowledgments xiii
Stephen E. Schmid
Philosophizing into the Void: An Introduction to Climbing – Philosophy for Everyone 1
Stephen E. Schmid
Part I Tying In: Why Risk Climbing 11
1 Climbing and the Stoic Conception of Freedom 13
Kevin Krein
2 Risk and Reward: Is Climbing Worth It? 24
Paul Charlton
3 Why Climb? 37
Joe Fitschen
4 Jokers on the Mountain: In Defense of Gratuitous Risk 49
Heidi Howkins Lockwood
Part II Quest for the Summit: Cultivating the Climber 65
5 High Aspirations: Climbing and Self-Cultivation 67
Brian Treanor
6 More than Meets the “I”: Values of Dangerous Sport 81
Pam R. Sailors
7 Mountaineering and the Value of Self-Sufficiency 93
Philip A. Ebert and Simon Robertson
8 It Ain’t Fast Food: An Authentic Climbing Experience 106
Ben Levey
9 Zen and the Art of Climbing 117
Eric Swan
Part III Cutting the Rope: Climbing Ethics 131
10 Freedom and Individualism on the Rocks 133
Dane Scott
11 Hold Manufacturing: Why You May Be Wrong About What’s Right 145
William Ramsey
12 The Ethics of Free Soloing 158
Marcus Agnafors
13 Making Mountains Out of Heaps: Environmental Protection One Stone at a Time 169
Dale Murray
Part IV Mixed Climbing: Philosophy on Varied Terrain 181
14 From Route Finding to Redpointing: Climbing Culture as a Gift Economy 183
Debora Halbert
15 Are You Experienced? What You Don’t Know About Your Climbing Experience 195
Stephen M. Downes
16 What is a Climbing Grade Anyway? 206
Richard G. Graziano
17 The Beauty of a Climb 218
Gunnar Karlsen
Climbing Glossary 230
Notes on Contributors 237
