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Does swimming have a nature? This may be a topic too deep for HN based on current down voting but there are substantial philosophical arguments not withstanding
by mentat 11y ago
Does swimming have a nature? This may be a topic too deep for HN based on current down voting but there are substantial philosophical arguments not withstanding the historical one that such things do not have natures. The historical argument I think is pretty basic. Would people from a century ago recognize competitive swimming as swimming? How about 2 centuries ago? A millennium? When does the nature of swimming get fixed?
- Nadya 11y agoThis was settles centuries ago. Riding on the water in a boat is called "sailing" and using your body to move through the water is called "swimming". The nature of "swimming" is defined as the verb "to swim". Which curtails that one is not "sailing". So no boats involved. There is some to be said about "drifting" (e.g floating on ones' back) being a form of "swimming" but I think that's the only grey line and as for a competition I don't think "drifting" would ever win in a race. If one wishes to "drift" as their method of "swimming" they will lose the race.
- mentat 11y agoThe things you don't realize you don't know...