Wise Ancestors, Good Ancestors: Why Mindfulness Matters in the Promotion of Planetary Health

The concept of planetary health blurs the artificial lines between health at scales of person, place, and planet. It emphasizes the interconnected grand challenges of our time, and underscores the need for integration of biological, psychological, social, and cultural aspects of health in the modern environment. Here, in our Viewpoint article, we revisit vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk’s contention that wisdom is central to the concept of planetary health.

Citation:
Logan AC, Berman SH, Scott RB, Berman BM, Prescott SL. Wise Ancestors, Good Ancestors: Why Mindfulness Matters in the Promotion of Planetary Health. Challenges. 2021;12(2).

Keywords:
Planetary health; wisdom; mindfulness; flourishing; purpose and meaning; happiness; value systems; prosocial behaviors; spirituality; mutualism; responsibility; reciprocity; COVID-19; non-communicable diseases (NCDs); biodiversity losses; climate change; mental health

Abstract:
The concept of planetary health blurs the artificial lines between health at scales of person, place, and planet. It emphasizes the interconnected grand challenges of our time, and underscores the need for integration of biological, psychological, social, and cultural aspects of health in the modern environment. Here, in our Viewpoint article, we revisit vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk’s contention that wisdom is central to the concept of planetary health.