Chess is everything - art, science, and sport. - Karpov

 

Art is not a mirror of life, but a hammer with which to shape it. - Gorky

 

All art is quite useless - Wilde

 

So is chess a mirror, a hammer, or useless?

 

This thread should be called "mirror, hammer or useless?" (DOH! )

Mirror.  But for those who don't play, it's useless; I don't thing it's even a hammer.

It is everything. Just like that first guy said.

Hmm, what a question. But we must also answer what science and sport are.

" Science is a first-rate piece of furniture for a man's upper chamber, if he has common sense on the ground floor.  " - Holmes

"Sports is the very fiber of all we stand for. It keeps our spirits alive." - FDR

 So chess is a useless hammer, a piece of furniture, or a fibery mirror...

I believe chess is an art because it's a game played with your imagination, a science because i think i've mastered it sometimes and a sport because well.. that's kinda obvious.

I think it's just a board game, although a very great one.

Etienne wrote: I think it's just a board game, although a very great one.

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You're absolutely right. I was being inane, and feel humbled by your sensible answer. Thanks!

Chess is quite useless. But it is a lot of fun.

epic thread bump

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You could argue though that if it's fun then it's not useless.

I don't know, I couldn't say. Maybe in 20 years I'll be able to tell you, of course it'll be too late by then for me either way.

But think about it like this: What would you be doing anyway? Would you be happier doing something else? I doubt it. Maybe you would be depressed, etc.

But what if you could quit chess cold turkey and feel just as happy without it? I really don't know...