There is always room for wonder…

The definition of ‘wonder’ in relation to the question is “to think or speculate curiously”. One could think or speculate curiously about virtually anything from an infinite range of different subjects, including the world. In this sense we can clearly identify the fact that we are not all-knowing beings regardless of our age and that there are indeed limits to our knowledge. If there are gaps in our greater understanding of the world and what encompasses it, ignorance will inevitably be complemented by our wonder. From this we can learn that as adults (or simply older) our capacity to wonder (particularly about the world) is just as vast as that of a younger specimen. If I may build on a quote referred to by a fellow blogger on Socrates - “One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing”, this furthers the point that no matter how wise or intelligent one is (or again how old one is) their knowledge will equate to little more than a grain of sand on a never ending beach. Their knowledge is insignificant in the great diversity of collective human understanding and what we have yet to learn.

It would seem that what Albert Knox means is that as we gain in mental maturity the endless possibilities that once may have seemed plausible at the age of say two or three, begin to narrow down as a result of naturally acquired rationality. I, although agreeing with the fact that in the process of growing up we lose the ability to wonder about the world to an extent, also believe that there are just too many things to wonder about regarding our world that what we can dismiss so surely is trivial compared with what is still to be discovered and wondered about.

The sheer magnitude of the unanswered towers over what we have learned to accept as normal, what we take for granted – the sight of a dog for instance. Perhaps our indifference toward such ‘trivialities’ of the world paves the way for us to address the bigger questions, and in some cases rather than step up to the challenge we lose ourselves in the “snug softness” at the depths of the rabbit’s fur.

It would seem that by the time we learn to think philosophically we are immediately seized by the rush of our fast-paced lives and that the world gets pushed into the background whilst our everyday affairs take centre stage. This however does not amount to us losing the ability to wonder! Certainly not! As children we could not even comprehend the big questions life throws at us, the big questions which have yet to be answered. There might arguably be even more to wonder about and where there is ignorance there are questions, and answers everyone is interested to hear and prepared to wonder about.

In conclusion I would like to reaffirm my point that although it is true we tend to wonder less and less about everyday happenings as we grow up, there will always be things to discuss, argue and think about, more complex and plentiful than ever before, questions regarding our little world and beyond. And it is these key unresolved philosophical questions that will always be present and open for wonder…