A Mere Animal Existence

The Peripatetics

To a world on the brink of madness, at war with itself, Thoreau pointed to a paradoxical truth: “There is a keen enjoyment in a mere animal existence.”

In this episode of The Peripatetics, we explore the precarious balance between humanity’s creative genius and the traps we’ve set for our wild nature. From the endangered mountain lions of Los Angeles, confined by freeways, to the ways in which algorithms confine today’s artists, we navigate a way to bridge the tension between freedom and control, wildness and civilization. Building on the reflections in episode 7 about Romulus and Remus, I reflect on the original sin of civilization — our betrayal of the wild — and consider whether we can, like the cougar of the Santa Monica Mountains, find our way back to a more untamed existence.

Transcripts of all episodes are available here. Find Trey on Instagram. Click here for Jason Klassi's Cougar Photo.

Episode Themes Include:

• The Precarious Balance Between Creativity and Control: This episode explores how humanity’s genius for creating can also entrap us, both physically and creatively. From mountain lions confined by highways to artists constrained by algorithms, the tension between freedom and control becomes a central focus.
• Civilization’s Original Sin: Building on the reflections from Episode 7, the episode delves deeper into civilization’s primal betrayal—the decision to suppress and dominate the wild. This betrayal is seen as the root of humanity’s disconnection from nature, and, by extension, from our own untamed instincts.
• The Dangers of Domestication: Just as wild animals are confined by human-made barriers, our intellectual and creative freedoms are increasingly limited by societal and technological constraints. The episode questions whether modern life’s algorithmic grids are strangling our wild creativity.
• Rewilding as a Path to Healing: By exploring the possibility of rewilding both our physical environment and our imaginations, the episode considers how humanity can heal from the wounds inflicted by our disconnection from nature. Can we, like the mountain lion in L.A., find a way to bridge the divide—both within ourselves and in our world—and return to our wild roots?
• Rewilding the Imagination: We highlight the imagination, not just as a tool for artistic expression, but as a necessary force in rewilding our minds and our landscapes. The episode suggests that a new kind of creativity is required—one that nurtures, rather than confines, the imagination.
• Freedom Through Connection to Nature: Nature is presented not as something to be controlled or conquered, but as a guide toward freedom. By reconnecting with the natural world, the episode argues that we can break free from the traps of modern life and restore our untamed selves.

Join us as we explore the fragile balance between freedom and control, creativity and confinement, and discover how reconnecting with the wild might just be the key to reclaiming our truest selves.

About The Show

Inspired by the ancient tradition of walking philosophers — from Aristotle and his followers to Thoreau and Nietzsche — who walked as a way to engage deeply with their thoughts and ideas, The Peripatetics wanders through th e thoughts of great thinkers in nature, art, literature, and philosophy as they intersect with the simple, transformative act of walking.

In season 1, we are discussing Henry David Thoreau’s definitive essay on the subject of walking, connecting it with wisdom from a wide swath of philosophic tradtions which share his devotion to achieving clarity and peace through movement.

Whether you’re a fellow walker, someone looking for a bit of tranquility, or just curious about how a good walk can change your perspective, you’re in the right place.

May your path be smooth and your pace steady.

About The Host

Trey Hill is a filmmaker who cut his teeth as a photographer and one-man-band storyteller for non-profits and NGOs, work which carried him around the world as he sought to expose the inner light present in some of the planet’s most overlooked people. He also spent 10 seasons in the NHL as team photographer for the Dallas Stars and has, for the better part of the last decade, directed TV commercials for global brands, working with household names, musicians, sports heroes, and politicians. In 2019, his feature-length debut, the documentary LOUD KRAZY LOVE about Korn’s Brian “Head” Welch, premiered on Showtime.