Please let this be true.
- Posted by Paul Gowder on June 8th, 2010 filed in fun, people I like throwing the smackdown on people I don't , philosophy, shiny people and cool things, total frivolity
- 7 Comments »
From (allegedly) a biography of A.J. Ayer, via Wikipedia, via Marginal Revolution
He taught or lectured several times in the United States, including serving as a visiting professor at Bard College in the fall of 1987. At a party that same year held by fashion designer Fernando Sanchez, Ayer, then 77, confronted Mike Tyson harassing the (then little-known) model Naomi Campbell. When Ayer demanded that Tyson stop, the boxer said: “Do you know who the fuck I am? I’m the heavyweight champion of the world,” to which Ayer replied: “And I am the former Wykeham Professor of Logic. We are both pre-eminent in our field. I suggest that we talk about this like rational men.” Ayer and Tyson then began to talk, while Naomi Campbell slipped out.
So very awesome. Philosophy: 1, Boxing: 0.
Although, admittedly, one wonders why the final sentence isn’t “and then Tyson kicked his ass.” I guess even maniac rapist ear-biters respect people who stand up to them.
June 9th, 2010 at 9:20 am
Your impression of Tyson might broaden after seeing this startling documentary.
June 9th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Oh interesting — I might watch that, thanks!
June 9th, 2010 at 9:47 am
I have heard this story before, from a source independent of Wikipedia, but I don’t remember what source it was. At any rate, I don’t think Wikipedia made it up.
June 9th, 2010 at 10:02 am
Apparently, it’s true. Or at least, it’s in the biography, so you have a non-wikioedia source:
http://www.andrewcullison.com/2009/02/google-book-previews-has-aj-ayer-vs-tyson-story/
June 9th, 2010 at 11:09 am
Fabulous!
The other thing I want to know is how a philosopher — and a logical positivist no less! — gets invited to parties thrown by big-name fashion designers. Political theorists are much cooler, ergo, I expect to get invited to at least the Playboy Mansion.
June 9th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
I think you’re seriously underestimating how cool AJ Ayer was. Take a look at this interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMlXmLbGKJY
Not only is he authoritative-sounding, he’s smoking during the interview. He’s like the Fonzie of philosophy.
June 9th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
The Tyson movie is really interesting. He’s been a pretty bad guy at times in his life, as he admits, but he’s also always been very interesting and in many ways thoughtful. Ayer was long a play-boy and funny. His discussion about being in the special forces in WWII was funny, too. I can’t remember the exact words but it was something along the lines of “I was given training that supposedly would allow me to kill a man with my bare hands, but as far as I could tell this depended on the person holding still and not fighting back at all.”