A Philosophy of Walking

French thinker Frédéric Gros records the varied reasons why humans move from one place to another—the pilgrimage, the promenade, the protest march—and explains what they reveal about their motivations and values. Other intellectuals in history, according to Gros, considered walking to be an important part of their work as well. Gros illustrates how Rimbaud's frantic pacing expressed misery, while Nerval's meandering nature walks helped him heal his wounds. He also shows how Rousseau walked to contemplate and how Nietzsche used long walks as inspiration for his poetry and prose. Kant, who always took the same route through his hometown at the same time every day, viewed walking as a way to avoid contemplation altogether.