Because the human mind is the greatest instrument of peace.

1. A Presentation at the
Humanist House
24 April 2013

2.  Being a student of the martial arts & having
overcome bullying in school ...
 Much has been done about the philosophy in the
martial arts ...
 Reflections over having survived situations &
conditions of grave physical danger ...
 The deadliest weapon of a human being is the
mind ...

3.  an academic discipline that exercises reason and
logic in an attempt to understand reality and
answer fundamental questions about knowledge,
life, morality and human nature
 “the love of wisdom”

4.  Metaphysics: the nature of reality and the universe.
Epistemology: the study of knowledge and how it is
acquired.
Logic: how to develop valid arguments; includes
mathematical logic.
Ethics: the study of right and wrong and how people
should live.
Politics: the study of government, citizen rights and
political obligations.
Aesthetics: beauty, art and artistic perception.

5.  codified systems and traditions of combat
practices, which are practiced for a variety of
reasons: self-defence, sport, health and fitness,
entertainment, as well as mental, physical, and
spiritual development.
 From Latin: Arts of Mars, the God of War

6. Martial Arts as a Philosophy? Philosophy as a Martial Art?
 Warfare is based on
deception
 All is fair in war
 Victory means survival
 Inconsistency between
Martial Arts & Philosophy
 Knowledge & Mastery of
Self, Your Situation &
Your Opponent
 The highest form is the
art of “fighting without
fighting”
 Consistent between
Philosophy & Martial Arts

7. Western Traditions Eastern Traditions
 Socrates: Non-
Commissioned Officer
 Plato: Wrestler
 Machiavelli: Military
strategist & tactician
 Clausewitz: Dialectic
Military Strategist
 Damon Young:
Philosophy & Black Belt
 Confucius: Military
Adviser
 Sun tzu: General &
Author of Bing Fa
 Chuang tzu: Taoist
Swordsman
 Miyamoto Musashi:
Undefeated Swordsman
 Bruce Lee: Philosophy
undergrad; Jeet Kune Do

8.  Resource & Territory
◦ E.g., Current regional tensions
 Culture & Traditions
◦ E.g., Indigenous vs. Immigrant
 Ideas & Values
◦ E.g., Human Rights

9.  Among Groups
◦ E.g., War
 Among Individuals
◦ E.g., Grudges
 Groups vs. Individuals
◦ E.g., Compliance & Dissent

10.  Cognitive Dissonance
◦ E.g., Moral Dilemmas
 Inconsistencies
◦ E.g., Legal vs. Ethical
 Exceptionalism
◦ E.g., Bigotry
 Priorities
◦ E.g, Budget

11.  Integrity
 Discipline
 Practical Application
 Appropriate Response
 Being Proactive
 Sense of Purpose
 Resilience

12.  Sun tzu: Bing Fa/Art of War
◦ Foundation: Self-Knowledge
◦ Strategy: Integrity of Purpose
◦ Intelligence: Knowledge of the Factors, the Conflict & the
Stakes
◦ Tactics: Cause & Effect
◦ Leadership: Mastery of Self & of Others

13. • Miyamoto Musashi
– Be Authentic; Harbour No Malice
– Practice is the Way to Perfection
– Be acquainted with every art.
– Know the ways of all professions.
– Distinguish between gain and loss in worldly matters.
– Develop the ability to see the truth in all matters.
– Learn to perceive those things which are not obvious.
– Pay attention to even small things.
– Do nothing which is of no use

14. ◦ Stratagems when in a
superior position. 勝戰計
 E.g., Hide in Plain Sight
◦ Stratagems for
Confrontation 敵戰計
 E.g., Watch a fire from
across the river
◦ Stratagems for attack 攻
戰計
 E.g., Beat the grass to
startle the snake
◦ Stratagems for confused
situations 混戰計
 Make distant alliances while
attacking close
◦ Stratagems for gaining
ground 並戰計
 Tempt with a ladder, then
pull it from under
◦ Stratagems Desperate
situations 敗戰計
 E.g., Run

15.  “Bring a Gun to a Knife Fight”
 Satyagraha = Truth Force
 “If you are attacked physically,
respond physically. If you are
attacked verbally, respond with
verbally.”
 Leverage your opponent’s power
instead of working against it.
 Silence ... Can be the best response

16.  Prepare: “The general who wins the battle makes
many calculations in his temple before the battle is
fought. The general who loses makes but few
calculations beforehand” (Sun tzu)
 Versatility: Know at least two martial arts ...
Applies especially to the philosopher
 “Opportunity favours the quick eye.”

17.  What are you fighting for?
◦ Victory, truth, a lesson?
 Non-Negotiables: “If you are not willing to stand
for something, you can fall for anything.”
 Victories can also be hollow, empty & downright
shameful.
 What is power?

18.  Pain & suffering can be a source of strength
 Know that You will not always Win
 If you win & your opponent does not care, you
have actually lost ...
 Just because you won the argument doesn’t mean
you have convinced them ...
 Life isn’t over til it’s over ...

19.  Dojo: the gym
 “The place of enlightenment”
 “The highest martial art is the art of fighting
without fighting”
 Who is your greatest warrior philosopher?
◦ Not one who fears death but a meaningless existence,
an unreflected life
◦ Remember Socrates ...