Homo homini lupus is a Latin expression, originated in Plautus and popularized by Thomas Hobbes, which means man is a wolf to man and refers to our individual, selfish, and violent origin. Hobbes posits that human beings are naturally self-centered, and that society endeavors to rectify this tendency in order to foster harmonious coexistence.
So, is the skier a wolf to the skier? This interpretation suggests that we are aggressive, by nature, towards the mountain environment, and this is for us not only a space to explore but one to discharge our aggressiveness by trying to claim everything we desire, as well as defying the laws of nature.
Due to our latent inclination to desire everything, we harbor distrust towards others, resulting in a persistent atmosphere of mistrust. This is a phenomenon that is not present when we are alone, and without any social laws to regulate us. We distrust others because we want the same descent, the same jump, or even the desire to go higher and farther than the others. From this lack of trust arise the conflicts between skiers.
The opposite conception of this respect is that of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, which is based on interpreting the human being as a naturally good being whose social environment perverts this condition, inciting us to transgress the laws of nature.
We may disagree with either perspective, however, it is imperative to remember that we have the ability to enhance our natural state, and it is possible that this could be the essence of skiing.
