Makila

Makila is a symbolic section of Éloge du Monde in which Michel Serres uses the makila—the traditional Basque walking stick—as an emblem of journey, memory, and wisdom. More than a tool for travel, the makila represents a companion that bears marks of time, place, and experience.

Through this object, Serres reflects on how knowledge is accumulated step by step, through lived movement rather than abstract theory. The makila links body and world, past and present, reminding us that understanding grows from attentive walking, patience, and respect for the paths we follow. In Makila, the world is something we traverse carefully, guided by experience rather than force.