Thinking on the move
On November 21st, we celebrate UNESCO’s Global Philosophy Day. The practice of walking and thinking has its roots in Ancient Greece, where Aristotle taught philosophy while strolling with his students in the Peripatetic school. In her book, "Wanderlust: A History of Walking," Rebecca Solnit shares an impressive list of thinkers who used walking to develop their ideas. This includes notable figures like Charles Darwin, Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Thomas Hobbes, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Ludwig Wittgenstein. To be added are equally inspring women such as Dorothy Wordsworth, Virginia Woolf, and Toni Morrison.
Long before Western philosophers, Indigenous peoples have practiced (and practice today) holistic approaches that combine movement, learning, and nature. This practice enhances creative thinking and strengthens connections with communities and the land.
Walking has also inspired new and powerful ways of thinking critically about society. There have been many historical events where walking served as a form of political action, such as the Women's March on Versailles in 1789, Gandhi’s 240-mile Salt March for Indian independence, Martin Luther King Jr.’s 54-mile march against unjust voting laws, and the 2013 journey of the James Bay Cree group from Whapmagoostui, Quebec, to Parliament Hill, a distance of 1,600 km. Walking has the power to change history.
Research from Stanford University shows that walking can enhance our thinking process. It helps our brains create new connections and improves our memory while increasing the size of the hippocampus.
Not only did Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg embrace walking meetings, but universities are also beginning to promote the idea of learning and teaching on the move.
In the long run, walking can help people align their thoughts with their actions, making thinking a full-body experience that encourages deeper reflection on the world around us. Walking can inspire us to envision alternative futures for our society as we face challenges together, walking towards a new world, just as the Greeks and Indigenous cultures have done.
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2024-11-19 19:00
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Meet the authors who are writing about walking and the landscapes through which we walk, at Walking Writers Salons. We are delighted to welcome writer Sarah Royston... Keep reading
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The “Takin ‘ A Walk Podcast invites you to check out our companion podcast, The Music Saved Me Podcast hosted by Lynn Hoffman, formerly of VH1 and A & E. Music Save... Start listening
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Join @thebuzzknight for this episode with Marcus “Bellringer” Bell, a visionary music producer and AI pioneer. Marcus shares his journey from aspiring musician to t... Start listening
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Join @thebuzzknight for a classic replay and birthday celebration for musician Chris Smither. Chris has been a fixture on the Boston music scene, and he continues t... Start listening
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2024-11-19 19:00
· Online
Meet the authors who are writing about walking and the landscapes through which we walk, at Walking Writers Salons. We are delighted to welcome writer Sarah Royston... Keep reading
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From our network
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Many thanks to Suyao Tian who recommended me for this article on VoyageMinnesota: https://voyageminnesota.com/interview/meet-ellen-mueller-of-south-minneapolis
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Day 137 - Resettle and 1.6 km drawing. Inflamed and 7.2 km drawing. Keep reading
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Join Daniella Turbin and Andy Howlett on 8th December for an exploration of this dramatic and fascinating Black Country hill range. Part of the Dudley's Path to Nat... Keep reading
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Stuff we found
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The ultrarunner completed the equivalent of more than two marathons a day, and she says that her support team was crucial to her mission Source: How Tara Dower fini... Keep reading
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Sexual aggression said to be ‘endemic’ on route through Spain, Portugal and France with solo female pilgrims at risk Source: Women walking Camino de Santiago speak ... Keep reading
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