Big muscles and intelligence?

[deleted] · 2014-04-08T18:51:06+00:00

You're hamsterising here mate-o. Lifting weights will damage your brain.... You don't actually believe that do you? If so, I think your brain is already a 'lil damaged.

Afronaut0 · 2014-04-08T18:16:11+00:00

Try not to think in terms of "Great Thinkers", but of normal guys who hold a degree, follow thru with their dreams, all while maintaining a healthy body.

You don't see them because we are at the gym all the time. We are here, we are smart, and we fucking love lifting.

No, lifting does not damage the brain. WTF did you hear this?

[deleted] · 2014-04-08T18:29:04+00:00

[permanently deleted]

nsummy · 2014-04-08T18:28:10+00:00

I think you are confusing those who are in great shape with the meatheads at the gym. Yes there are plenty of idiots, losers, and dumbasses who flip through Muscle and Fiction to read the ads and drink think that big muscles are all that matter in life.

In truth there are many intelligent people who lift weights and make it a part of their life, not a focal point of their life. Even if they are a pro bobybuilder there are many who have outside academic pursuits. Read t-nation.com. A lot of the authors on there are doctors or hold high level degrees.

Furthermore you don't have to bodybuild. I work out for strength and survival. I have no use to see how big my biceps can get

waldoon · 2014-04-08T18:41:41+00:00

Well, it depends on what you mean by intelligence. People who don't take care of their health, yet are geniuses, can be considered intelligent. But in my opinion, if I see a "smart intelligent" person who doesn't take care of their body is someone who isn't as smart as a big strong man who spends the time to learn how to optimize his system to his end goal.

You're running into bro-science with inflammation. There's a lot of blood-brain barrier conversation you could talk about with intelligence, but I'll leave that to someone who knows more than I do.

You could point to the Socrates quote: "No citizen has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable."

I think people who achieve their maximum in life, and push themselves beyond what they think they're capable of in multiple facets of life (physical, geographical, culturally, emotionally, mentally, scientifically, etc.), are much more interesting/intelligent than those who just do one field.

There will always be counter arguments, but that's just my take on it.

TL:DR - Just because he's strong, doesn't mean he's dumb. Good question, keep up the work.

PumpingIron85 · 2014-04-08T18:48:24+00:00

I'm an attorney at a large NY firm, went to elite undergrad and graduate schools, and am fucking huge. There are plenty of incredibly smart people that are healthy. American psycho isn't an exaggeration. Finance and law attract plenty of dudes that are incredibly fit and have high intelligence. You don't have to be a body builder, but being fit is important.

Inflammation is not going to hurt your brain. I don't want to be too dismissive here but that's pretty fucking ridiculous.

waldoon · 2014-04-08T19:10:33+00:00

However, I don't think I can recall meeting a highly intelligent man with large muscles.

There are plenty of fit and muscular professionals.

Have you ever actually entered a gym? Have you talked to any of the guys who go there?

1talldarkandhandsome · 2014-04-08T18:52:03+00:00

This guy seems to do alright.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolph_Lundgren#Education

[deleted] · 2014-04-08T19:05:51+00:00

Dude wat. The reason there are no swole scientists, is that it takes a shitload of time to develop a skill, this goes for extreme scientific knowledge as much as it goes for a sick body. Most people don't have time for both.

Varrian · 2014-04-09T10:17:24+00:00

Well, why don't you become the first?

Title	Big muscles and intelligence?
Author	waldoon
Upvotes	0
Comments	20
Date	April 8, 2014 6:01 PM UTC (12 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askTRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/22j9hk/big_muscles_and_intelligence/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askTRP/big-muscles-and-intelligence.139305 https://theredarchive.com/post/139305

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