Should we have a Philosophy Olympics?

Now that the Olympics is beginning in England it suddenly occurred to me why not an Olympics for intellectuals, a philosophy Olympics? We could have different categories such as what is the best and most interesting philosophical question? What is the most far-out philosophical theory that will stand up to the scrutiny of logic? Who is best at furthering the philosophical concepts of famous classical and modern philosophers? etc., etc.

Someone could moderate the categories and it could run to the end of the current Olympic games and we vote at the conclusion.

To maximize participation, maybe we should keep the categories simple. Something like

Best Pre-Socratic philosopher

Best Existentialist

Best Enlightenment-Era (17th/18th century) philosopher

Most dangerous philosophy

etc.

Nah, widen it to all the branches, so everyone can medal.

To maximize participation, maybe we should keep the categories simple. Something like

Best Pre-Socratic philosopher

Best Existentialist

Best Enlightenment-Era (17th/18th century) philosopher

Most dangerous philosophy

etc.

That's OK too, but what I was thinking of is the creative amateur {and pro} philosophers on this forum. What can they come up with in the way of unique and/or controversial philosophical ideas and concepts? Who knows maybe we will create a new branch of philosophy or a heretofore unrecognized philosophical paradigm.

Nah, widen it to all the branches, so everyone can medal.

If there are too many categories it would become unwieldy. After all philosophical concepts and ideas have no limits, so for a contest we would have to set parameters, categories, etc.

Now that the Olympics is beginning in England it suddenly occurred to me why not an Olympics for intellectuals, a philosophy Olympics? We could have different categories such as what is the best and most interesting philosophical question? What is the most far-out philosophical theory that will stand up to the scrutiny of logic? Who is best at furthering the philosophical concepts of famous classical and modern philosophers? etc., etc.

Someone could moderate the categories and it could run to the end of the current Olympic games and we vote at the conclusion.

FYI.

It is not England. It is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Here's a matter arising: Censorship.



Olympic ceremony censored by the US.

Of all the things you might expect to be censored I would have thought that the Olympic ceremony would have been the last; a ceremony emphasising respect, love and the unity of humanity. But NBC thought otherwise, and took particular exception to the topic of love.

It is with some pride I think that Star Trek TOS had the first interracial kiss, between Kirk and Uhuru- this did receive a certain amount of censorship in the US, and some stations still hold a ban on that particular episode I am given to understand.

In a similar way the UK gave us the first example on world television of a Lesbian kiss, curtesy of "Brookside". During the Olympic display, during the montage of events and historical happening of the 20thC projected against the House in the middle of the stadium, this kiss appeared from a fleeting sub 2seconds. It is a triumph, although a minor one that this image was broadcast into millions of homes throughout the world, even Saudi-Arabia had this beamed directly into their homes. But obviously this was too progressive, shocking or evil for the free-est country on earth; NBC managed to edit it out to save the shame and horror of their delicate viewers.

[Scott]

Perhaps we could have a tournament of one-on-one debates. Any volunteers? Any suggestions for a one-on-one debate?

I think this might work if we find good topics to argue about. We could try to find people for each topic who support the theory/idea and others who are against it and then have a general judge commenting on the quality of the conversation and voting for the person who was most convincing. Topics should probably be something a bit controversial:

- Is Abortion wrong? Does God exist? Should philosophers be in government instead of politicians? Would the world be a better place without religion? Are we really free? Should homosexuals be allowed to marry in a church? Has society changed at all? Is the mind distinct from the body? Identity - when are two things the same? Should we close down all nuclear power stations? Do we have a free will?

Just some ideas.

I think there has to be a joke in here somewhere about action vs. intention...lol...

I'm all for this as long as people don't lose sight of the goal of philosophy.

I'm all for this as long as people don't lose sight of the goal of philosophy.

True, chess is a game and philosophy is not. But in the same way contests are held on aesthetic ratings, such as in say dancing, why not rate philosophical minds on the basis of intellectual creativity? What is the most interesting conceptual view? What is the most interesting question posed? When rated by chosen judges who scores the most points in debate on a chosen topic?

True, chess is a game and philosophy is not. But in the same way contests are held on aesthetic ratings, such as in say dancing, why not rate philosophical minds on the basis of intellectual creativity? What is the most interesting conceptual view? What is the most interesting question posed? When rated by chosen judges who scores the most points in debate on a chosen topic?

Unfortunately, those sports that rely upon judges to determine the winner (as opposed to a sport where there is a clear winner due to scoring/goals/first to complete/etc.) are frequently under fire as not being fair.

At one time golf was mainly for the rich because as a sport there was no money in it. Chess too was interesting but not much money in it and now it too has become a big money contest. People are always looking for new and interesting entertainment. True with philosophy many might have a comprehension problem, so the appeal might be limited but like some on forums such as this a group of devotees will develop - I can see it becoming a somewhat popular form of entertainment - but definitely not for the type who likes soap opera. Today it is "Dancing with the Stars', maybe tomorrow we will have 'Thinking withe the Brainiacs'.

No, never gonna happen! philosophy can makes better Olympic but can't has own Olympic.