Assignment Numero Uno Exploring the Philosophy of Sophie's Verden: The Chronicle Thoughts and Views of Miguel Magno

Ok so here goes.


The philospoher in the book Albert Knox says that as we grow older we seem to take the world for granted, not appreciating the little things in which make our world oh so very sweet. I must say that I have to agree with everything he is trying to say. He gives us the quote "It seems as if in the process of growing up we lose the abilty to wonder about the world." It's true! when we are born into this world we know nothing, therefore we wonder about everything, things that adults would even think about wondering on. Things like why some food tastes so awesome, why the sky is blue? why are we here? which is a question that comes up quite a bit in the first few pages of the book. But because as babies we know nothing we must think like philosophers in order to understand life itself, that is the only way we learn to grow as a spieces. Without thinking the way we think as babies we would all end up clueless about the world around us and we would all just end up dead because of our lack of understanding of nature. But there comes a point in time when once we have figured out the basics of how life goes on it seems as our way of thinking change and goes in mindless robot mode. Because of our daily routine which we see from our parents and the rest of the community we simply conform to what is happening and lose our ability to think like a philosopher. We grow up, we concentrate on different things... relationships, getting buff, schoolwork, CAS, TOK and so on. Because of that it seems as if there isn't enough room in our tiny brains to take it so we push away that bit in our brain which makes us wonder.


Some of us onthe other hand still retain that gift of thinking. People like Socrates who is introduced in this book because of the way he changed the way people thought of certain things. But because of his different way of thinking he ended up being critisized for it which lead to his death. Now, cmon. In the words of our generation we would say that "THAT IS SO NOT COOL!". Socrates, trying to help the world community through his thinking, ends up dead because of it. This happened just because he refused to conform to how things went on. Not only is Socrates used as an example in the novel but Jesus, the figure of Christianity. Because of his different beliefs and thinking he gets tortured and crucified. But these people lived thousands of years ago, what do we care? We have to care because its part of the human races history, without knowing anything about our past we cannot grow and evolve. This is what happens with the philosophers mentioned in the book with each passing philospher they use the ideas of others to create better ones.


I know a lot of people who have think reading this book is complete torture and I have to say I thought the same but it actually makes you think about everything. Before I never really wondered and thought about things. This book has made me think, why am I here? why am I doing these things?. It has even made me wonder about the most randomest things like what makes pizza so good and how sea monkeys work.


What Albert Knox is saying is true in my opinion. We have dug ourselves so deep into that rabbit's fur that some us are so comfortable in it that they never go back up or even dare to go back up. People thinking they live their happy lives doing the same old routine everyday, never wondering, never thinking, just doing as they are told are those who live deep in their fur. Those who do not dare explore the limits comort zone. That is what Sophie is r, but through Albert Knox's philosophy course he is changing the way she thinks, but just like Socrates she is already being seen as strange to even those closest to her such as her mom and friend. Who knows? maybe thinking this way is deemed to lead to negative consequences. Maybe we should stay deep in the rabbit's fur? Many people lead their lives in this way and are more than satisfied with their lives. I guess it all depends on a person's mind set.