Thinking as Sport and Dance

Book excerpt: "This is what a philosophy book should be like-exciting, surprising, mind-opening, honest, and original." -Alphonso Lingis, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Pennsylvania State University Thinking as Sport and Dance will not only teach that real thinking is an amazing adventure into the greatest mysteries and experiences of life but will also reveal thinking as a grand celebration of life. To know the real glory of thinking, you must understand its two basic dimensions: the qualities that make it similar to sports and those that relate it to dance. Artful thinking is like a sport because it's goal-oriented, analytical, rule-bound, and confrontational. Besides pursuing knowledge with the attitude of a dedicated sportsperson, artful thinkers also engage reality in the spirit of dance, where thinking becomes spontaneous, intuitive, playful, and harmonious. Thinking at its best emerges when the mind of an athlete and that of a dancer live together competitively and playfully in the same mind. When this happens, beautiful thought performances result. Thinking as Sport and Dance is a critical tool for addressing and resolving life's many complexities, as well as a guide to embracing life with gusto and joy.