Mr. Shenk argues that talent and skill are products of "extraordinary upbringing"(61). Shenk believes that "practice style and practice time"(66) are the most essential parts to determine the greatness of the star intellects and athletes. This argues that practice is the farmost important part of success. This argument also discredits natural inclinations for greatness, such as Michael Phelps. Michael Phelps, arguably the greatest swimmer ever, has been described as having the "perfect swimmer's body" in all of the proportional lengths of his arms, torso, and legs. Therefore, couldn't part of his success be attributed to his birth-given body? Use your knowledge of the theme of structure and function to help you answer the question.
Sam Alhadeff
alhadeffsam@gmail.com
David Shenk argues that "genius" and "talent" are built mostly off of extensive and proper practice. However, Shenk does not exclude other factors from contributing to success. Throughout his book, Shenk also cites influences from pre-natal gene-environment interaction (81), "starting early" (47), and "cultural circumstances" including relationships with family, peers, and mentors (81). Shenk would argue that Michael Phelps's perfect body proportions for swimming were a result of cumulative gene-environment interaction. Just as height is not bound by genetics but rather more dependent on other factors such as nutrition (192), other body proportions are not defined at birth. Phelps began swimming at age seven and intensive training at age ten, before his body had fully developed (http://faqgo.com/2008/08/10/michael-phelps-biography-and-family/). Thus, his circumstances could have easily affected his body structure to give him such an advantage. Although it is hard to imagine, Phelps's practice could have greatly affected his physical development, making his practice an even more important factor to his success. Additionally, the biological theme of structure and function states that structure offers insight to function and vice-versa (Campbell 7). However, humans are naturally not built for swimming. Even given Phelps's special proportions, he could not simply glide through the water like a penguin. Thus, his incredible accomplishments in swimming must be attributed to other factors as well. Additionally, the development of Phelps's talent from his physical growth to his skill development from practice relate more to the biological theme of continuity and change. While his body may not have been innately built for the function of swimming, with consistent and intensive practice and direction under supportive family members and a dedicated coach, he was able to develop incredible physical abilities and possibly even alter his body structure.
ReplyDeleteIn response to your comment, Justin, I agree with your point that both “extensive and proper practice” as well as “starting early” and “cultural circumstances” are largely responsible for Micheal Phelps’ success. The Campbell text also supports this, stating that “both genetic makeup and the environment contribute to the development of behaviors” (1129). In this case, the behavior would be swimming.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I also believe that relating back to the theme of structure and function; we cannot turn a blind eye to Phelps’ exceptionally hydrodynamic proportions. Although Phelps is not as good at swimming as a dolphin or penguin, his proportions are definitely selective advantages for him when he races other swimmers. In nature and animal ecology, this would translate to being able to out-survive others of his species and reproduce. The structure of large “wingspan” and his incredible lung capacity, measured from lactate levels in the blood (his lactate level was the highest recorded in swimming history), definitely better serve the function of swimming efficiently better than any other swimmer who trained an equal amount as Phelps. (Courtesy of http://archive.totalimmersion.net/2004%20articles/august/phelps.html).
About your mention of cultural circumstances playing a large role in the development of one’s “genius,” I can relate back to the blog book, when David Shenk mentions multiple times how certain cultures’ areas of knowledge or expertise are skewed towards one field. One example is that of the African people from Kisumu, Kenya, who were tested and showed an inverse relationship between their grades at school and knowledge of local herbs and remedies. Similarly, those at a Baltimore milk-packaging plant were highly skilled in “carton-calculus” but their IQs were also devastatingly low. To relate back to Micheal Phelps, he is one of the weakest elite US swimmers our physiologists have ever recorded. However, he’s still America’s best swimmer (http://archive.totalimmersion.net/2004%20articles/august/phelps.html).
(Tina Ding: yuning.tina.ding@gmail.com)