The Scottish Highlands are one of the most remote places. It might seem like no human being could scrape a living from the hard land and the deep lakes. But if you go walking near Loch TreigA reservoir in the northern Scottish highlands. Its name, meaning lake of death, comes from Gaelic., 20km east of Fort WilliamA town in the Scottish Highlands. Its population of 10,459 makes it the second-largest settlement in the Highlands, after Inverness., you might catch a glimpse of a figure fishing in the waters.

Ken Smith has been living as a hermit since he built his own log cabin 40 years ago. He has no electricity, gas or running water. He grows his own vegetables and forages for berries, but he mostly lives off fish.

For the last four decades it has been a life of perfect self-sufficiency.

But in 2019 Smith suffered a strokeA medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off. They can cause lasting brain damage if not treated quickly.. He had to activate a GPS-operated locator beacon, allowing the coastguard to airlift him to Fort William, where he stayed in hospital for seven weeks.

Despite doctors' best efforts to get him to move to a flat, he insisted on returning to his cabin. Damage to his vision and memory means he needs more help: a local gamekeeper now brings him food every few weeks.

For some, Smith is an example of what humans can do in a state of solitude. For others, he is a reminder of the limits of solitude.

The desire to seek solitude is ingrained. Humans have been seeking refuge for centuries. Many early Christians left to wander the wilderness. The best-known was Anthony the GreatAn Egyptian Christian monk who is revered as the Father of All Monks., who moved to the Egyptian desert and lived alone for 35 years, eating only bread, salt and water.

But these so-called Desert FathersThe most prominent was Anthony the Great, who left his wealthy family to live in the Egyptian desert in around AD270, and inspired thousands of other men and women to do the same. realised how difficult it can be to find solitude. When others heard of their example, they flocked to the deserts themselves. Soon there were so many of them that it was impossible to be alone, and many started banding together in communities that became known as monasteries.

Some philosophers have extolled the virtues of solitude. Friedrich NietzscheA German classical scholar, philosopher, and critic of culture (1844 - 1900), who became one of the most influential of all modern thinkers.'s famous work Thus Spoke Zarathustra tells the story of a hermit who, after a life of thinking alone in the mountains, descends to teach the people the wisdom he gathered.

Likewise, Jean-Jacques Rousseau was proud to call himself a hermit. But his supposed "solitude" was not very solitary, since he was almost always accompanied by admirers.

Other thinkers suggest that solitude should be taken in moderation. Aristotle argued humans are social animals who like living with each other. But he also thought spending time away from others was vital for a philosopher.

The Romantic poets, delighted in temporary seclusion. William WordsworthAn English writer (1770-1850) best known for his poems about nature, such as Daffodils. wrote about the "bliss of solitude", but he also valued his friendships.

Yes: Scientific studies have found that spending time alone increases empathy, sparks creativity and helps build our mental resilience and self-knowledge. Spending time apart from other people gives us time for reflection and makes us behave better towards each other.

No: Human beings are not made to be alone. Hermits throughout history, from Anthony the Great to Ken Smith, have found that living a totally self-sufficient lifestyle is not as easy as it looks. We should cherish the time we have with each other, not retreat from our commitments.

Or... It is rare that somebody can find peace in total isolation. But many of us need it from time to time. Life should be about a mixture of experiences.