The Importance of Nature for Thought

Gerardo Posada considers some of the philosophical benefits of green spaces.

- Gerardo Posada

One of the most important tasks of the philosopher, if not the most important, is to think. Nature presents her with a space where her task can be most easily carried out. Even in large cities, wooded groves, parks, and gardens, are some of the places the philosopher counts upon in order to be able to build authentic thought beyond the limitations and contingency of her normal, congested world.

Of nature's many aspects, I have chosen to focus on three here, namely, nature as freedom, as inspiration, and as health. I will also show how three philosophers individually embodied these reactions to nature, beginning with the American philosopher Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), who praised nature as being where we're able to break away from the lifestyle prescribed to us by society. Next we will look at Cuban philosopher Jose Marti (1853-1895), who referred to nature as a 'healer'. Lastly we will consider Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), who saw nature as a source of inspiration. I will conclude by presenting some problems this argument faces, and potential answers to them.

Nature as Freedom, Inspiration, & Health

We cannot deny that oftentimes a thinker needs to be in their own company. In solitude they can best determine the extent to which they will allow the influence of others to affect their thought. In solitude, the philosopher is free from interruption, and free in a more profound sense too: they don't exist merely as the passive recipient of what has been already tailored for them by others. In solitude, their thought becomes authentic and autonomous, and so do they.