The Playing Field

Sport and Culture Through the Lens of Science

Steven Kotler is the author of West of Jesus: Surfing, Science and the Origins of Belief. His magazine writing has appeared in more than 31 publications. See full bio

September 11, 2008, Sport and Competition

Comments on "Have We Reached The Limit of the Possible?"

Have We Reached The Limit of the Possible?

By Steven Kotler on September 11, 2008 in The Playing Field

For years, athletes have used the notion of impossible as motivation. If it can't be done, that was all the more reason to try. Read More

Impossible

Submitted by Dr. Art Bowler on September 11, 2008 - 7:42pm.

The impossible is always a possibility. Dr. Art Bowler, New York Psychologist.
www.drartbowler.com

reply to my blog

Submitted by Steven Kotler on September 18, 2008 - 5:26am.

Dr. Bowler,

It's not that I disagree about the impossible being possible—the last 100 years are proof enough of that. What I'm getting at is the point when action sports start bumping up against the laws of physics. Bannister broke the 4 minute mile b/c we thought it was impossible, not because it broke down gravity. What is interesting to me here is what happens when these athletes start bumping into actual limits....what happens to the sport then?

Best,

-sk