Montaigne and Thoreau: Walking

To my surprise, this year I discovered Michel de Montaigne as a good friend. I read his essay "Of Experience" with my students in a seminar on philosophy and the good life, and I felt really engaged by his attitude towards life. I particularly appreciate his hedonist view that nature weaves together what is truly … Continue reading Montaigne and Thoreau: Walking

Blue Moon Rising

I have been trying to practice what Buddhist philosopher Stephen Batchelor calls The Art of Solitude--that is, the art of being with yourself, attentive to your inner life and faithful to your own heart, whether you are by yourself or with others. It is a challenging practice. Last night, for example, I was taking a … Continue reading Blue Moon Rising