1. How does Gros describe morning walks?
2. What does "chatter" do to our consciousness? (If you know Heidegger, how would you compare it to what he calls "idle talk"?)
3. What do you lose, when you are "doing nothing but walk"?
4. What made Rousseau sick?
5. Rousseau, the new _____, was "the doggish man of the Enlightenment" after deciding to break with ("stop frequenting") _____.
6. What is homo viator?
7. Rousseau's "natural man instinctively ____ but never ____ himself."
8. What w as Rousseau's state of mind during his last walks, as recounted in Reveries of the Solitary Walker?
9. What becomes unimportant when you walk? What kind of interior awareness stops? What may we rediscover?
DQ
- What's your favorite time of day to walk? How would you describe the different experiences of walking at different times, and in different seasons?
- How much of what we call "news" is really what Gros calls "chatter"? Do you feel as though you get enough, too much, or not enough of it? Do you try to manage the flow, or do you just accept the prevalence of it as a necessary consequence of living in the "Information Age"? What kind of information is worth having?
- Do we ever really think in the absence of language? Should that be a goal of walking?
- Do you agree that "in silence you hear better," hearing (so to speak) what has no words?
- How long can you sit at a desk without squirming and being distracted by the thought of moving? How often do you think you should excuse yourself from your desk?
- Do people who take "long meditative walks along forest roads or lakeside paths" (66) typically become "bearish," do you think? In general, would you expect a more contemplative style of living (such as one built around long daily walks) soothe the savage breast and instill greater civility and sociability in a difficult person?
- Do long walks "kill the days" (66) or enliven them?
- Can one be "born a Calvinist" (or Baptist, or atheist, etc.)? 67
- Do you envy those who were born in the pre-automotive, pre-rail era who regularly walked for weeks to reach a destination? Or do you thank your lucky stars for living now?
- Is there something self-contradictory or hypocritcal about seeking acclaim by proclaiming that society is corrupt, or writing books about the things you can't learn from books? 71, 73
- Do you think Rousseau was ever happy? If walking didn't make him happy, what did it do for him?
- Was there ever, do you think, a "natural man" of the sort Rousseau describes? Can individuals approximate that condition, even if humanity per se cannot?
- What do you think Emerson meant when he wrote of becoming a "transparent eyeball"? 85
- Your DQs please...
Irresistible, in light of last class...
They are, after all, a social (media) species. And they're great therapists:
Maira Kalman thinks dogs might have the answers we're seeking, but they're not speaking...
(Thanks for finding this, Jessi!)
And see Kalman on the joys of wandering... walking with Einstein... on how great ideas start with an empty brain... on walking, thinking and feeling... on creativity... on walking and looking and falling in love... on the pursuit of happiness
And see Kalman on the joys of wandering... walking with Einstein... on how great ideas start with an empty brain... on walking, thinking and feeling... on creativity... on walking and looking and falling in love... on the pursuit of happiness
- How much of what we call "news" is really what Gros calls "chatter"? Do you feel as though you get enough, too much, or not enough of it? Do you try to manage the flow, or do you just accept the prevalence of it as a necessary consequence of living in the "Information Age"? What kind of information is worth having?
ReplyDeleteMost of it, I assume. Some of it is important and worth going into and discussing, but the majority is mostly so that people can grab people's attention, possibly manipulate them or sell them something (or both), and go about making money. I get just enough of it mostly from word-of-mouth. If it's being talked about in general conversation, it's most likely worth going into (or at least given thought).
- Do we ever really think in the absence of language? Should that be a goal of walking?
To a certain extent, I think so. There are times where thought cannot or should not be put into words. Trying to actively achieve that kind of goal, through walking or by other means, is not the way to go about achieving it, which I recognize as paradoxical, but is more so meant to support the idea that one should not try to put such ideas into words and coherent goals. One should just allow and flow.
- Do people who take "long meditative walks along forest roads or lakeside paths" (66) typically become "bearish," do you think? In general, would you expect a more contemplative style of living (such as one built around long daily walks) soothe the savage breast and instill greater civility and sociability in a difficult person?
Typically, no. People can enjoy hikes in the woods and come out on the other end just as civil as they were before, just as ignorant as they were before, and/or just as bearish as they were before. Difficult people who find it hard to manage themselves would probably find the contemplative lifestyle very frustrating. That's something you'd want to ease into I think.
- Do long walks "kill the days" (66) or enliven them?
ENLIVEN! Absolutely enliven! The beauty, the simplicity, the randomness of encounters and situations and scenery and setting and environments, the independence, the lack of other serious work or obligations that would otherwise be ruthlessly attended to - these can only enliven one's days.
- Can one be "born a Calvinist" (or Baptist, or atheist, etc.)? 67
It seems absurd to me. You develop your beliefs by your experience, and they aren't set from birth. It's as simple as that to me. One needs experience in order for one to believe in something, whether that be a God, a religion, a philosophy, an idea...there needs to be experience there to check it and verify it.
- Do you think Rousseau was ever happy? If walking didn't make him happy, what did it do for him?
I think yes. From the way the book described his life, it seemed like it was full of purpose and well-formed ideas, and his life was simply a natural execution of such ideas and purpose. I'm sure it lead to some hard times, but overall, I think he found great happiness and satisfaction from his life.
- Was there ever, do you think, a "natural man" of the sort Rousseau describes? Can individuals approximate that condition, even if humanity per se cannot?
Of course! Humans had to start off somewhere and in some condition. Modern society did not happen overnight. Hunter-gatherer tribes and more primitive cultures also exhibit these kinds of "natural man" characteristics. We all started from those same roots. I think individuals have the power to find that condition within themselves, as long as they are strong in body, mind, and spirit. It's not something that most modern men could face I think.
What's your favorite time of day to walk? How would you describe the different experiences of walking at different times, and in different seasons?
ReplyDeleteI prefer extremely early morning walks, or runs, or hikes. Sometimes It’s hard just so stay inside until the sun comes up. These excursions become much less frequent once the weather turns colder, but it just makes it more welcome when spring comes around. As Gros explains in his text, the early mornings allow for a quiet that is unattainable otherwise. I think these are better partaken alone, while evening strolls are better with friends to unwind from a typical day.
How much of what we call "news" is really what Gros calls "chatter"? Do you feel as though you get enough, too much, or not enough of it? Do you try to manage the flow, or do you just accept the prevalence of it as a necessary consequence of living in the "Information Age"? What kind of information is worth having?
It has come to the point that I don’t take in too much news. I know I need to be a well-informed citizen, but it seems lately that the news does not do much for me, just increases anxiety. I hear the big news points so I’m not completely ignorant but that’s about it. At this point in my life, I find myself attempting to find information that gives me a better “bullshit” meter, so I don’t become as susceptible to the unreasonable claims made from others, from the news, and from the political atmosphere, though I realize this is much more difficult than it seems.
Do we ever really think in the absence of language? Should that be a goal of walking?
I’m not sure if I ever think in the absence of language- at least not thoughts that I could articulate later, nothing that isn’t an automatic function, like habit or reflex, and I don’t know if this is the goal of walking- this would imply that walking has a goal. Maybe walking is one activity that doesn’t have to have a stated goal to be beneficial.
Do you agree that "in silence you hear better," hearing (so to speak) what has no words?
Yes, both practically and emotionally. Again, I enjoy early, early mornings more than any other point of day because it simply means I have the house, and the silence, to myself for a few hours. It’s a little dreadful when the next person in my household wakes up in the morning, because that means the silence will be broken again until tomorrow morning.
How long can you sit at a desk without squirming and being distracted by the thought of moving? How often do you think you should excuse yourself from your desk?
I can sit a few hours without a mean to move, but only if engaged in an activity I find stimulating or enjoyable (I get a kick at writing certain papers!) but after that I have to take a break and do something. Sometimes its just cleaning the house to keep myself going, or go for a run, but its always something to move.
Do long walks "kill the days" (66) or enliven them?
They ‘kill the days’ in the sense that they take all day, and no other activity can really be participated in besides the long walk, though most of the time that is the point. Long walks are the point of the day.
What's your favorite time of day to walk? How would you describe the different experiences of walking at different times, and in different seasons?
ReplyDeleteMy favorite time of the day to walk is after i have had a cup of chamomile tea around 9 pm, so i can recollect my thoughts and evaluate my day. Allowing myself time to digest and interpret my surroundings and interactions with others. And also my own actions. The subtle task of rediscovering yourself through reflection of your day brings a sense o relief and enjoyment. It also encourages me to move things in an even better direction for the success of future interests. That middle ground between spring and fall is the best time to walk at night because there often is a slow wind at 70 degrees, just embracing you with warmth and wrapping you up with a chill breeze.
Do long walks "kill the days" (66) or enliven them?
ReplyDeleteLong walks kill he days set aside for work or the days where a natural desire fuels you to get things done. I think it is best to go with the flow and reserve your nights -to enliven them- for reflection and reevaluation of your interests.
I think we definitely think thoughts that are not made of language.. last night as I was about to go to sleep, my girlfriend asked what I was thinking of and I literally wasn't thinking words its like I was thinking in images or just processing. when we describe our thoughts we always use language but I def think we think in abstract ways and in images. walking definitely induces this type of thinking in me
ReplyDeleteI also like walking in the early morning hours.. taking a hike is theurapeutic and meditative for me... it's my fav time of day because I don't feel like I'm wasting time or I should be getting to something.. it's the beginning of the day so there's nothing else I should be doing but walking through nature
ReplyDeleteExtra questions for chapter 8-10:
ReplyDelete1) What did Thoreau observed that taught him many things?
2) On page 59, what did it say when you would leave streets? What would happen?
3) What does it say about the silence of tough summer afternoon? (page60)
4) What is the silence of woodland?
5) What is the silence of early morning?
6) What is the silence of walks?
7) What is the unique silence of night?