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From	Message
coopershawk 13-May-09, 20:45	philosophy/chess Have philosophers written about chess? Something tells me that Wittgenstein was a decent chess player, but it might have been a relative (a bother), and I don't recall where I read it.
-zoe- 14-May-09, 05:21	for intro... ...here is a nice article www.chessvibes.com
coopershawk 14-May-09, 07:01	Thanks Zoe. That is an interesting review, and the book also looks like a good collection of essays. Have your read it?
-zoe- 14-May-09, 07:54	no, I didn't read the book.. yet. I would read it if I find it on line as an e-book edition (free e-book would be the best   I doubt that someone translated it and published it here in my country, but I'll search for it anyway. Thanks for starting such an interesting theme!
rilke 14-May-09, 09:49	Philosphy - Chess I knew Nietzsche loved music; but I am not sure about Chess. I wonder the other Philosophers. Napoleon did play chess. Similar to his strategy at war !
coopershawk 14-May-09, 20:57	Deleted by coopershawk on 14-May-09, 21:11.
coopershawk 14-May-09, 21:10	Music Rilke, You reminded me that I recently learned that one of Wittgenstein's brothers, Paul, was a concert pianist who continued to play after losing an arm. Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks pp. 259, 262 and www.youtube.com I may have been conflating that fact with my vague thought that Wittegenstein's brother was a chess player. It appears that the more famous Wittgenstein brother occasionally used chess as an example or to illustrate an idea, but I can't find any record of him being a particularly skilled player, or writing about chess -- as opposed to writing about philosophy and using chess to illustrate his point.
coopershawk 14-May-09, 21:15	Deleted by coopershawk on 14-May-09, 21:16.
coopershawk 14-May-09, 21:22	Philosophy Looks at Chess I ordered the book today, but will not receive it until June. I will comment about it again later. Here is an interesting sounding article in a journal: I will see if I can find it in a library. On the Philosophical Dimensions of Chess www.informaworld.com
rilke 15-May-09, 08:41	Wittgeisntein I appreciate this important info cascadejames. I had no idea he had a brother (Paul), and that he had only one arm , and he was an accomplished pianist. Unfortunately youtube had only the Ravel's composition (in parts). But still is very informative !! Great work buddy!
coopershawk 28-Jun-09, 21:36	Deleted by coopershawk on 28-Jun-09, 21:38.
coopershawk 28-Jun-09, 21:38	Philosophy Looks at Chess I am about half way through this collection of essays by various authors. I recommend the book, so long as you have more than a casual interest in philosophy. It is not a book about chess; it is a book about philosophy. It is a dense book, and most of the essays would be difficult to follow without a background in philosophy. Most of the essays so far use chess analogies to make a philosophical point. Some use chess playing computers to make an arguments about the relationship of computers and the mind. I will write more when I finish the second half.
coopershawk 23-Jul-09, 08:21	Philosophy Looks at Chess part II Overall a good book. As indicated before, most of the essays are by philosophers writing about philosophy and using chess as an example. Some are less than satisfying because the philosopher knows little or nothing about chess, and is just using the game to try to make a point. But two of the more entertaining are written by philosophers and about chess. The best of these later types, and the final essay is by Stuart Rachels, former US Chess Champion, now turned philosophy professor. I also enjoyed Tommy Curry's essay about Hip-Hop chess tactics, though I started out thinking that I would not.
obsteve 29-Jul-09, 05:29	Hi James Any chance of scanning the Tom Curry Essay, and emailing, for the edification and delight of the Forum? Steve
coopershawk 29-Jul-09, 17:07	Steve I am a little particular about copyright, but I would be happy to snail-mail the whole book to you. You could keep the book, or pass it on to some one else. Send me your address by private message if you want the book.
obsteve 30-Jul-09, 02:17	Copyright I am likewise particular about copyright, especially music copyright. If I were I musician I would happily release a virus into the community which ate all forms of recorded music. Maybe people would take it less for granted then. (Another topic, I think) "Fair dealing" under UK copyright law allows you up to 10% copy without breaching copyright law, for research purposes. I see you live in USA, so maybe law different there. Shipping might be bit over the top for snail mail, so maybe I should buy own book eh? LOL! I have sad dearth of chess reading at 'advanced' level, and your book sounds great. But from what I'm reading of your crit it seems more of a philosophy book anyway... Would you recommend it? (UK £12) Steve
coopershawk 30-Jul-09, 16:55	Value? In retrospect, I doubt I would spend £12 on the book. I would try to find it at the library instead. But I am still willing to mail it to you, and you would be under no obligation to send it back. The postage is not that expensive. I often mail books and give them away. See: www.bookcrossing.com
obsteve 02-Aug-09, 01:23	Library it is then! Thanks for the offer mate, but I think library is prob best. Book crossing is a great idea though. I am a really bad book keeper, have loads of material up in the attic I haven't touched for years. Mostly scripts that I couldn't bear to get rid of anyway! We have charity shops over here, which are always full of books. That and church fete book stalls, like 5 books for £1, or something daft. I am always on the look out for a bargain

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