‘It seems as if in the process of growing up we lose the ability to wonder about the world.’ It is in the child’s nature to question everything. This is a difference between child and ‘grown-up’; as Knox says “To children, the world and everything in it is new, something that gives rise to astonishment.” Whereas a ‘grown-up’s’ natural inquisitiveness is merely forgotten, passed as something granted in our daily existence.

Chapter 2 of Sophie’s World examines the line between an awareness of self and just plain ‘existing’ – living in a society and norms that we take for granted. In the process of growing up, we mature, learn, use logic. We feel a need to define our existence. Life then moulds into a schedule, but our need for self-gratification makes us more focused on ourselves, the 'world' we have built rather than being interested in the outside world. So our perspective shifts because of this, and the novelty with which we first experienced the world as a child fades. To never realize this is a shame, because can you really enjoy life without knowing about yourself? Just how many people do you know who live unsatisfactory lives?
Maturation is a part of life, and it’s also important because we need development, the “trivialities” to appreciate. The inspiration to live can be drawn from our daily ambitions. We learn to appreciate things in another kind of way that is also beneficial and more sophisticated. Although it may be that we put our energies in worrying about things that seem more trivial when compared to the scale of the universe - when its real significance is seen at a perspective, or when we reflect on it after a period of time or years later. But I don’t believe life is as superficial for anyone as Knox’s statements portray. Throughout life everyone would surely notice at least once that life is filled with many uncertainties, paradoxes, that everything is simultaneous, inane, purposeful, a fluke and full of doubt, coincidental, synchronized, purposeful, sad; very much like an immense psychological trick on us.

That being said, wonder DOES reside in everyone of us: humans are equipped with the ability to think and feel. Perhaps not everyone would stop to wonder about the machinations of the universe, but no one “loses the ability” to simply recognise their own existence.

There are many instances which spark our awareness: fear of death, the unknown, realizing differences, infirmities, another’s existence, empathy for unfortunate people, reacting to something grand or beautiful like nature and art. These feelings make us unsure of whom we are when we realise just how lone and real our individual existences are. This is what turns us to contemplate about ourselves (the first step to 'wondering further' at a philosophical level).

I have never met a person of intellect who has never asked themselves if a higher power (God, fate) exists or not which is why I believe everyone has the capability to wonder. Perhaps what Knox criticises is our lifestyle, our fixation on a superficial reality, and that the only way to lead meaningful life is to contemplate, instead of blindly processing every assignment, deadline, weekend, lunchtime. Today’s society is so modern and efficient, ingrained beliefs (e.g. Gods, supernatural explanations) fixed by culture and tradition cannot excuse us for our lack of interest in thinking ‘beyond’ because culture no longer dominates so much of our life.

Despite so, I don’t believe civilization, science and technology is the reason which hinders our ability to wonder. I was thinking of physics. If Einsten had not questioned and doubted, we would not have come across any of the major revelations. Science, Physics, expands our view. Scientific explanations which cover the complex anatomy of the living organisms give us incentive to wonder, as we realise how 'fictional' reality is. - Try it with another perspective, does not things like DNA, atoms, stoma, peristalsis sound unnatural? Before we learned any of that, it didn't 'fit in' in what we take to be habitual in our lives. Yet it is abstract and true. However, the human concept of measurement does limit our lives: A newton is abstract and so is a centimeter in some ways, yet we 'accept' these values. The concept of time is a complete invention of man. The term ‘second’ could have been attributed to mean ‘month’ or ‘0.5 seconds’ as there could have been more days in a week, year or month. Birthdays don’t exist, we often see it as an annual celebration - we restrict ourselves to the concept of ‘year’, without realizing its certain meaninglessness rather than thinking of birthdays as a way to measure our maturation. I’m not saying that celebrating birthdays for fun/enjoyment is superficial or meaningless, -these are the positive kinds of trivialities in life. It’s more of a matter of trying to right the ‘false’ concepts you were brought up to believe.

Losing some of the same astonishment is inevitable. Even if our human brains have limited ability to conceptualise all the truths of the universe (e.g. how we think everything needs a beginning), our quest for our identity is important – to not forget the fact that an ‘explanation’, ‘meaning’ or ‘what if’ is most POSSIBLE is important. While human emotions are integrated in us, higher thinking is also needed to achieve independence and knowledge.

In the end, it is all a question of 'would you rather'. How would you like to live? You are forced into existence, but the rest are your choices and attitude. That, I believe, is the philosophy of living!