Reading David Shenk's wonderful book, "The Immortal Game", Came across this quote:
CHESS, A GAME OF WAR, TEACHES PEACE
Comments?
How does it teach peace exactly?
Its all the skill of real war without the violence. In some cases it was they only way that some countries communicated during the Cold War.
It allows all the intelligence of war without the bloodshed. I only wish political disputes could be solved by the game.
"intelligence of war"??
well at least the battle strategies of ancient tactics.
Yes, but those Cold-War countries "communicated" by trying to beat the tar out of each other to show (somehow) that their economic system was best. I'd say it's a game of war which (to a certain extent) sublimates war. I remember though the story of Bobby Fischer playing through games as a teenager and making exploding noises and such when he captured pieces (and then there was Alekhine throwing his king and Nimzo's "Why must I lose to this idiot?")...so maybe it doesn't sublimate all that well.
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