Knox argues that we lose the philosophical questioning ability that we had when we were young people. I agree with this statement. As we grow, we begin to develop a ‘habit’ of safely living in the world. And as we settle down comfortably in safety (e.g. snuggle deep into the rabbits fur), we accept the world without wondering where it came from, as it does not matter to them so much – they are too engrossed with their daily lives or ‘habits’. People nowadays (admittedly even me) couldn’t care less about the origins of the world, or if something came from nothing, as we simply don’t have time for it and we have priorities. I would rather spend time earning money for my family than wondering to myself ‘where did the world come from?’
Another reason is perhaps humans have become too selfish. After all, can you name me any rich philosophers living today? I’m saying this because we all know that we have a limited time on this world, and we want to make the best of it. We all are sent to school to have a better life in the future as scientists, doctors and the like. Perhaps no-one wonders about the world anymore because we know all the facts and already think we know the answer, therefore not wondering about the world as much.
I myself have had my share of ‘wonderings’ when I was young, mostly when I found out that my parents will die someday. Questions I remember asking myself such as what would death be like? Or after death, will it just be lonely blackness forever? Or will we be reborn as a new person having forgotten every single thing that happened before? I don’t wonder about these things anymore because I know I can’t find the answer until I experience the real thing and it’s depressing to think about.
To conclude, I agree with Knox’s statement, because of our priorities in life, ‘habits’, and expectations society places on us. Wondering about the world is no longer a priority for adults, while children wonder because they don’t have an IB diploma to worry about!
2 comments:
"What happens when we die?"
This is a very interesting question. It's one that concerns everyone. Different people will have varying answers in result of superstitions, beliefs and knowledge of reality. As much as we don't want to die, we just have to accept it.
In the same way, grownups just accept the fact that they are born into this world and given the opportunity to experience the magnificance of it. Even if they question on about why they are here and find, in their opinion, the correct answer, it wouldn't change anything. Life just goes on.
I like the part on death and how we consider it, yet put it to one side as quickly as we can. It is a depressing thing to think about and as you said an answer we will not find out until we do "kick the bucket". However, it is asking the question that is the important thing and if we don't learn to question things, our race cannot progress. Scientists and inventors have to question old theories in order to disprove them and it is this questioning which has lead to the state of our world at present.
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