Ep 305 - What is Strength? (w/Drs. Adrian Kind, Conor Heffernan & Walter Veit)

Dec 11, 2024

Guest

Conor Heffernan

Join Dr. Conor Heffernan, a historical expert on strength, and philosophers Dr. Adrian Kind and Dr. Walter Veit as they explore the evolving concept of strength. They discuss how societal perceptions of strength have transformed from ancient Greece to modern competitions. The trio dives into philosophical debates surrounding strength training's classification as a sport, ethical dilemmas in gym etiquette, and the balance between objective measurement and the spectacle of strength sports. Expect an engaging blend of history, culture, and philosophical insight!

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INSIGHT

Philosophical Definition of Strength

Strength in strongman is not just about lifting the heaviest weight but also transparency and diverse movement patterns.
Judging criteria and point systems contribute to a comprehensive strength assessment.

ANECDOTE

Hafthor vs. Eddie Deadlift Controversy

Eddie Hall questioned Hafthor Bjornsson's 501kg deadlift record due to lack of crowd/verification.
This highlights the tension between objective strength and entertainment in strongman.

ANECDOTE

Chimpanzee Strength

Chimpanzees possess more muscle fibers but may lack the skill to effectively use their strength.
This highlights that skill plays a crucial role in strength.

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Who is the strongest? Is it the person with the biggest Powerlifting total? Weightlifting total? The current Worlds Strongest Man/Woman Champion? Or, perhaps, the current Arnold Strongman Classic Champion? It’s an oft-debated question, typically occurring around the proverbial fitness water cooler. However, recently Dr. Kind, Dr. Veit, Dr. Heffernan, and our very own Dr. Helms made this debate into a multidisciplinary academic paper. Specifically, they asked the question through the lens of history, what has strength meant in society since the dawn of physical culture, what is strength philosophically, and finally, what is strength objectively, as measured in sport and exercise science? Join us as we discuss why asking this question is important, and how these very different disciplines turned out to be quite complementary in providing an answer.

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Time stamps:

00:00 Welcoming back Dr Conor Heffernan from the Obelisk

2:35 Adrian and Walter (re)-introduction

Kind 2023 Is bodybuilding a sport? https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00948705.2023.2234978

6:26 What is strength?

Kind 2024 What is strength? https://sportrxiv.org/index.php/server/preprint/view/467

14:21 Who in society decides what strength is?

29:45 A philosophical breakdown of the definition of strength

36:54 Strength measures of interest

56:02 Skill, efficiency, and intentionality

Bauman 1926 Observations on the Strength of the Chimpanzee and its Implications https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-abstract/7/1/1/866743

1:06:03 Eric’s tirade on sports science and exploring different strength variables

1:12:36 Categorising strength feats

1:18:46 The final sign-off (more plates, more dates?)