London, Europe Brief News- What is happiness? Does the universe have an end? What is life? Did you ever want to investigate big life’s questions with your child?
Young children are natural philosophers, says Scott Hershovitz, a professor at the University of Michigan. They ask the questions we’re embarrassed to, because they’re not worried about looking dumb. And, well, the world still seems pretty strange and new to them.
If you know a child aged 4-8, we’re sure there are times when you’ve been stumped by inquiries such as “What is it like to be a dog,” “What’s the biggest number in the world,” “Why are people bad” or “Why can’t I just do what I want?” You may have had a response for them in the moment, but wished you’d been able to answer more meaningfully. Or the question might have sparked your own desire to know more.
Either way, Scott can help. Submit your child’s philosophical brain-teaser here, and he’ll do his best to come up with a well-informed answer. Use the form below and read on for an excerpt from Scott’s forthcoming book, Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with Kids.
Answers will be posted in due course, and we’ll inform those readers whose questions have been selected.
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