In the process of growing up, do we REALLY lose the ability to wonder about the world?

Albert Knox states that “It seems as if in the process of growing up we lose the ability to wonder about the world.” What Knox is implying is, as we grow up we become so accustomed to the world- because of our habits- our ability to question about the world weakens. To a certain extent, I agree with what Knox has stated.

It is true that people who are younger wonder a lot more, conversely, adults do not wonder as much. Mainly because the life we have been building up for so long already has such rhythm, as our age increases our experiences also does. Eventually we become less surprised about the world, even though it evolves through time. When a baby is brought to the world “they slip out into a brand new reality-”- they know absolutely nothing- therefore they have no limit to wonder in a new environment. Children also find most things normal, because they are still trapped with naivety and innocence; in the book it also seems normal for a child “even if seeing their father fly.”

The rhythms of life that we have been building are things like objectives, aims and satisfaction. Instead of asking “who am I?” I ask “How can I do well in IB for me to be admitted into a university of my choice?” “What are their standards?”
I believe what Albert Knox has eloquently stated some people has just dug too deep inside the rabbit’s fur, it is so comfortable, they never go up to the fur ends, to wonder afar (beyond their social norm).

Why did I say to a certain extent that I agree with Albert Knox? Well, we do not really lose the ability to wonder. Some people choose not to, others are afraid to and some actually do. People who choose not to wonder about the world are the ones that are dug deep inside the rabbit’s fur, they are the ones that feel comfortable of what they’re doing, in other words they might have reached their point of satisfaction. Those who are afraid are willing to express their curiosity but the people around them will find them weird, even the closest; an example would be Sophie’s mother. Being afraid makes them feel uncomfortable; therefore, they resort back to where they started: “the comfortable zone”, then, people will find them “normal”. Some still wonder about the world when they are grown ups, most philosophers in the world are adults, such as Socrates, Plato and Democritus.

At first (two years ago), when I found “Sophie’s World” stacked in my brother’s book-shelf I said to myself, oh no, another one of those books filled with philosophies and matter, NOT GOING TO READ THAT EVER. Then, when IB started I was told we had to read it. So, I read it. Over the time of reading this book I realised that it was different from all the books that I have read, I actually had to think and refer back while reading it. Now, I am actually starting to like it because the theories inside somehow makes sense. It has also made me think who am I? Where does the world come from?

In my opinion, the diversity of personalities in the world makes Albert Knox’s statement hard to fully agree with. Maybe we do lose the ability to wonder about the world, or maybe we are afraid to because of the intense integration of the world? But on the other hand there will always be quite a few people who do wonder about the world.