Philosophy of Surfing

One of the most influential historians of classical western philosophy in the past 25 years is Pierre Hadot, whose ground breaking work emphasized that philosophy as practiced in the ancient world was always more than an academic pursuit, it was a way to organize and live an examined life that addressed issues of ethics, physical/emotional/mental health, connection to nature, and, ultimately, the goal of human being. For this reason, many contemporary authors have begun to refer to avid surfers as possessing a kind of philosophy of life. This course will examine the philosophical theories of Hadot and a few others and consider whether the writings of modern surfers correspond or conflict with these theories.