The Walkable Neighborhood Disorder

In “Walking and the Suburbanized Psyche,” the author, Rebecca Solnit, argues that the development of suburbanization has been the primary problem as to why our modern society continues to devalue the significance and impact of walking. Suburbanization hasn’t only changed the way we travel from one place to another, but it has also changed the way we communicate amongst each other and with ourselves. Walking is looked down upon and has been seen as a symbol of low status. This has led people to exterminate the use of walking in their daily lives. However, even if someone would like to walk to their destination they can’t due to the fact that places are shaping their roads to accommodate to the excess use of cars. I agree with Solnit that walking has a positive impact towards our bodies, our world, and our imagination.

Anthropocentrism are people who have centered view of our relationship with the environment. People who follow this ethic are described as those who deny, or overlook and devalues the notion of nonhuman things. Biocentrism is defined as intrinsic value to certain living things or to biotic realm in general. In this life the human life and nonhuman life both have ethical standing. Ecocentrism judges actions in terms of their effects on whole ecological systems which consists of living and nonliving elements and their interrelationships (Wihgottt & Laposata, Environment, page

Rebecca Solnit’s Walking and the Suburbanized Psyche stresses her concerns about the suburban wave that has plagued the world in recent times. According to her, the mind, the body, and the world have a special bond that is being vanquished by the lack of recreational walking. In the eighteenth century, there was a “golden era” for walking because recent accommodations made it possible for the general public to enjoy the untamed nature all around them. This era was short-lived, as suburbs rose to popularity so did their unorthodox labyrinths which made walking simple distances nearly impossible to the public. The reason why walking in nature is important, Solnit shares, is because it allows the mind to flow freely without the corruption of everyday obstacles that the suburbs brought. She explains that in order for the mind to avoid being molded into a sterile dull thing, it must imagine in nature. If we do not continue to walk, the history we have with walking will diminish as will the special bond our ancestors cherished so dearly. Without it, Solnit fears that we will no longer be able to produce such things, however, in recent times walking is not a luxury many can do. I disagree because society has changed to the point where walking is not only a rarity but also a threat to many.

In the essay “Walking and the Suburbanized Psyche,” Solnit argues that human beings are losing the ordinary connections between the body and the world is caused by the advanced innovations that are being implemented. Walking has been part of human culture since the time of the Homosapien. According to Solnit, if walking continues to be devalued by our society, a lot of practical benefits and lifestyle will be gone. Back in the days, many people treated walking as a pleasure when one person takes another person out for a walk. It represents one of the cultural activities. Furthermore, walking not only can be a delightful activity, it also serves as a transportation tool. The efficiency of getting around the neighborhood

Staying cooped up inside not going outside only when necessary can negatively affect your physical health. Walking was cultivated by our ancestors. The physical benefits are eye-opening because most of them improve problems society is dealing with such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, etc. For example, an article by the Mayo Clinic Staff states, “regular brisk walking can help you: Maintain a healthy weight. Prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Strengthen your bones and muscles.” (Walking: Trim your waistline, improve your health), walking seems to improve physical health. Walking is more

Outdoors and nature have proven to improve an individual’s physical and mental health, however the population of the United States have disconnected from the outdoors causing a rise in health issues such as obesity, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and other chronic diseases (Bates & Stone, 2015). Obesity is defined as a disorder involving excessive amounts of body fat that can increase risks for health problems, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some leading causes of preventable death (CDC.gov, 2016). Obesity is a growing health disparity that nearly more than one-third of American adults face due to an evolving society (CDC.gov, 2016). Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States and they are the most common, costly, and preventable health conditions (CDC.gov, 2016). Aside from obesity, other chronic diseases include type 2 diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, stroke, and cancer (CDC.gov, 2016). Diabetes is known as the leading cause of kidney failure, blindness, and lower-limb amputations (CDC.gov, 2016). Arthritis is the most common cause of disability, with twenty-two million adults reporting that this prevents them from performing daily activities (CDC.gov, 2016). With over 30 years of research, urban nature has shown to enhance physical, psychological, and social well-being for the growing population (Shanahan, Fuller, Bush, Lin, & Gaston, 2015). Individuals with a sedentary lifestyle are more at risk for

“people around here are willing to help their neighbors, this a close knit neighborhood, people in this neighborhood can be trusted, people in the neighborhood generally don’t get along with each other and people in this neighborhood don’t share the same values” (Sampson et al., 1997, 920).

Val Plumwood in her essay “Paths Beyond Human-Centeredness,” illustrates the impact that humans have on nature and non-animals when it comes to preserving environments. Understanding that nature has it’s living properties that let it thrive among its resources allows for people to grasp the complexities that come about when construction companies destroy the environment in which they work. Plumwood uses the term dualism to refer to the sharp distinction between two classes of individuals. There is the high class, which is considered as the “One.” In contrast, the other side of the division consists of individuals that are classified as lower and are subordinates to the “One” as “Others.” This account on dualism allows the reader to understand how humans can significantly alter the environment because of the way they perceive its resources and inhabitants. Plumwood defines five characteristics that illustrate the oppressive actions that change the connection between human relations and the relationship between humans and nature.

The convenience of living in an urban or suburban neighborhood can be appealing to many people. Choosing between areas can sometimes be overwhelming for some individual. People are not only concerned about the safety of a community, but they are also concerned about the environment. Although some neighborhoods might look attractive, people should consider the expense that comes with it, and how commuting will affect them in the long run. Nevertheless, both neighborhoods have their specific advantages and disadvantages. When choosing between an urban or suburban neighborhood, it is important for people to research the community, the expense, and convenience

The people nowadays also abuse on what nature can provide to them. People are influenced by the western Culture, Man is more powerful and can have dominion over nature and that nature as they see become merely an instrument to satisfy human needs and wants. This kind of thinking or we can say attitude towards nature is called the “Anthropocentric Attitude”. Man reduce the value of nature as it is and it’s important because nature has made all things specifically for the sake of man and that the value of non-human things in nature is merely instrumental. An opposite thinking would be the Eastern Culture, for they value nature very well and they treat nature being one with them. This thinking or attitude is known as “Ecocentric

Many people have some kind of sickness and need to exercise. We need to be healthier, and we can accomplish that not only by eating healthier, but by exercising as well. When people exercise they have a lesser probability to have a sickness. People also want to walk; however, there are not a lot of places that you can walk. Sometimes, you want to feel good about yourself or you have to exercise, but either way you have to have somewhere to walk and sometimes you can't go to a park so you could just walk to the store or just to walk across the

This topic is very significant because over the past several decades, urban and neighborhood planners have strayed away from green spaces throughout their projects. Green spaces encourage interaction among citizens as well as improving the environment in the vicinity. In this divisive political climate, it is almost necessary to provide areas where families and individuals can come together and enjoy a less stressful environment.

Nearly everything that a human does is in response to the environment. Our lives are defined by what is around us and what we find in front of us, whether this means accepting, dealing with or changing it. This has been the pattern since primates first stood up and became Homo erectus, and has continued until we considered ourselves doubly wise. The shape of the land affected where humans moved. Weather was something with which to contend. Fire affected humans until they conquered it – and herein lies the core of the relationship. The earth affects humans, and humans affect it back, viewing characteristics and patterns as problems and challenges, and finding a solution.

The connection between humans and nature is very weak. Due to future advancement we are basically losing our grip on reality, which brings up the point of destruction to nature that we are not aware of. At one point in time nature was the most beautiful thing you could ever witness. Now people exploit it for money. They are selling land, resources, even water for a profit. They don’t think twice or blink an eye at the damage they cause. The disconnect is so huge the debate of protecting the earth is treated as a forbidden topic. “Second, environmental injustices critics challenge the mainstream environmental idea of what environmental problems are in the first place. They say its focused on the beautiful outdoors, it has anti-urban bias, it isn’t engaged enough with artificial human environments like neighborhoods and workplaces” (Purdy 4) That just baffles me how you can turn the place we call home and the wellness of it to a political debate when all we should want to do is preserve it.

Walking through a route can has a positive impact this can be done to save the environment which helps the person that keeps them away from vehicles that use a lot of fuel which can cause pollution that is not good for the environment. How people use vehicles also is not good for the environment and area to develop and keep it environmentally friendly when people walk it makes it better for development and to be more sustainable in the future. The personal response from people is very vital about people learning about the sustainability of life and what people should do to be more sustainable and to live longer (Bradshaw, 1997).