Nov 9, 2023·edited Nov 9, 2023Liked by Cursed Climbing
I’m thoroughly impressed with the quality of the content that CC has published, and this post might be my favourite so far. Such an interesting topic and I’m pleased to see it approached from several angles. Thanks!
Very thought-provoking, as usual. One logical conclusion from your hierarchy of virtues is that bolt clippers will never do better than hedonism. Seems fair but odd that using other forms of inorganic assistance does not have the same deleterious effect on one's virtuousness. How much aid is too much?
Hi John, thank you very much. I mention the tension between the Quest and hi-tech Craft approaches in footnote #2. Acknowledging this and consequently taking an intentional approach to technology is required to avoid concluding that it 'just makes rational sense' to bolt everything.
I think then, perhaps, the focus on "bolts" and not other forms of inorganic assistance (as well as conflating bolts with chipping) unduly skews your analysis. If and to what extent a particular source of motivation encourages or discourages the intentional restriction of one's use of any form of assistance to a minimum level might be a better way to frame the point. In an era where climber aids (from ropes to chalk to micro cams to bolts to kneepads to beta videos) have never been more accessible, the deliberate decision to eschew aid has never been more obviously virtuous.
I’m thoroughly impressed with the quality of the content that CC has published, and this post might be my favourite so far. Such an interesting topic and I’m pleased to see it approached from several angles. Thanks!
Very thought-provoking, as usual. One logical conclusion from your hierarchy of virtues is that bolt clippers will never do better than hedonism. Seems fair but odd that using other forms of inorganic assistance does not have the same deleterious effect on one's virtuousness. How much aid is too much?
Hi John, thank you very much. I mention the tension between the Quest and hi-tech Craft approaches in footnote #2. Acknowledging this and consequently taking an intentional approach to technology is required to avoid concluding that it 'just makes rational sense' to bolt everything.
I think then, perhaps, the focus on "bolts" and not other forms of inorganic assistance (as well as conflating bolts with chipping) unduly skews your analysis. If and to what extent a particular source of motivation encourages or discourages the intentional restriction of one's use of any form of assistance to a minimum level might be a better way to frame the point. In an era where climber aids (from ropes to chalk to micro cams to bolts to kneepads to beta videos) have never been more accessible, the deliberate decision to eschew aid has never been more obviously virtuous.
Of all climbing literature and other media I have consumed you are hands down the my favorite climbing author, thanks.
Thanks EE but I am only standing on the shoulders of giants. Do check out Irving, Smythe and Murray's books; therein you will find real authorship.
Will do, thanks.