Socretes and Health by James Hansen

James Hansen:


Socrates. Fitness Fanatic?

When you think of Socrates you probably think of things like Philosophy and ancient
Greece.

You probably didn’t know that he was a big advocate for fitness and health. Here are
three reasons that if Means Health was around in Ancient Greece, Socrates would be
gracing the cover. And he would look just as good as the Men’s Health guys do today.

1. Socrates fought in wars. Like in that movie 300. Seriously.

In Greece, at the time of Socrates, all men were required to serve in the army. And it
was rough. Greece was, at most times, at war with Sparta, Persia, or quelling uprisings
from conquered territories. So when you joined the army you could be sure you would
be fighting at some point. How did you survive? You had to be strong and you had to be
athletic.

Greeks fought in close combat with a large round shield and a heavy wooden lance at
least six feet long. The fighting was long and grueling and if you weren’t in shape you
would be eating wooden lance at some point. It provides new meaning to the saying
survival of the fittest.

Socrates fought in four known battles and survived them all. There is one story of
Socrates, after his commander had called retreat, running back into the fray to carry a
friend to safety. Not only was Socrates fit, but he was a total stud.

2. Socrates worked out on a daily basis.

Thinking of ancient Greece we picture the Parthenon and all the big white pillars. But the
center of Greek life was in the Agora, the market place of Greece. And near there was the
public arena.

After teaching his students. Socrates would go by the arena and exercise every day. His
workout of choice was wrestling. Friends of Socrates would throw it down greco-roman
style and between bouts would discuss politics and philosophy. And as good a teacher
and philosopher as Socrates was, there were some that would argue he was a better
wrestler.

3. Fitness = Morality to Socrates.

So if you didn’t exercise, to Socrates, than you weren’t an ethical, good person? Exactly.
Because Greece was in constant war, it was understood that at a moments notice you
could be expected to defend the city. Socrates felt that if you didn’t keep your body in
peak physical condition you were not a patriot.

Overweight people were actually frowned upon. It was a sign of complete selfishness and
laziness. Hence, Greece was a very fit nation.

Now, that’s not to say that if I don’t exercise today that I’m a bad person and should be
shunned. Although, that might be motivation for me to keep getting on the exercise bike.
It is however food for thought and something to think about when looking for motivation
to work out.