Wisdom Walking in the Inland Northwest

Philosophical Hiking & the INLC Mission

By Christopher Kirby, PhD, Director, Philosophy Program – Eastern Washington University

Hiking is a simple way to live more sustainably. It requires no special equipment, helps people stay physically active, and promotes a deeper appreciation for the environment. But beyond this, hiking also has been shown to lift one’s mood, foster stronger ties between neighbors, and even help folks navigate personal conflicts in more constructive ways. That’s why professionals from all sorts of fields — whether outdoor enthusiasts, environmental advocates, community planners, or wellness promoters — have advocated simply stepping outside and taking in the air.

Among philosophers, too, there’s always been a passionate cadre of walkers, hailing from various places and traditions. Among the Greeks, Aristotle and his ancient Athenian students became known as the peripatētikoí — or, ‘those who walk around’ — for the way he lectured while walking the grounds of the Lyceum. Itinerant Daoist sages in ancient China touted the importance of yúnyóu [cloud-walking], a way of recognizing one’s own internal transformations as reflections of the external changes in the countryside. For native Anishinaabe the practice is called bimose kinoomagewnan [the teaching walk], while the famous naturalist Henry David Thoreau wrote fondly of the many days he spent “sauntering” in the woods around Walden Pond. Whatever it’s called, walking in nature helps us think more clearly and connect more deeply. And talking about meaningful ideas while on such hikes enables us to slow down, gain perspective, and better understand what matters most in our lives.

In my day job as a philosophy professor at Eastern Washington University, I’ve had the opportunity to study ideas from all around the world, and I’ve been returned time and again to a simple truth: healthy environments are essential for healthy people. It’s an idea at the root of so many intellectual traditions, each of which understood in its own way how the land can add meaning to our lives, strengthen bonds, and provide us with a sense of direction. There’s a sense of solidarity in that.

Considering this, I started incorporating philosophical hikes — or wisdom walks — in my Environmental Ethics course a few years ago and was immediately struck by the enthusiasm with which students responded. Through the generosity of EWU’s Community Engagement Fellowship and the American Association of Philosophy Teachers’ (AAPT) Innovation in Teaching Grant, I’ve been able to incorporate hikes into other courses and start building a library of philosophical texts about hiking in order to support student research.

That’s what led me to volunteer as a hike docent with the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy. I want to share these connections with as many folks as possible and the INLC’s mission, “To conserve, care for, and connect with lands and waters essential to life in the Inland Northwest,” was a great fit for doing just that. After all, clean air, fresh water, and green spaces are more than luxuries — they are the ecological preconditions for physical, mental, and emotional health… or what philosophers have traditionally called flourishing.

Philosophical reflection is another component of that sort of flourishing, as it deepens our understanding of what it means to live well, encourages mindfulness, and contributes to a sense of belonging in the world around us. Yet, successful philosophical inquiry is not found in reflection alone, but rather in what might be called reflective activity, emphasizing practical knowledge and the marriage of bodily movement with abstract thought. With this in mind, wisdom walks combine traditional philosophical discussion, shared reading experiences, and a kind of eco-therapy based on the Japanese concept of shinrin yoku [forest bathing].

On the trail, philosophy can step down from the ivory tower and touch the earth. Whether it’s gaining perspective from standing on a 10-million-year-old cliff at Palisades Park or contemplating how watersheds sustain and connect communities while hiking around Waikiki Springs, wisdom walks aren’t about conquering or analyzing nature, but meeting it in such a way that we might become more finely aware and richly responsible human beings.

In today’s fast-paced world, where many feel disconnected from themselves, others, and the natural environment, this mission feels more urgent than ever.

Join Chris on a Wisdom Walk at Antoine Peak Sunday, June 8th – RSVP here!