The Child who Asks Questions, the Adult who Forgets: The Value of Philosophizing from the Outset

Abstract

Philosophy has been a constant shadow on the human mind since childhood, without us being fully aware of its presence. From an early age, deep questions about life, death, and evil arise, often without satisfactory answers. These concerns, though uncomfortable for adults, are born of a natural and philosophical curiosity that seems to fade with time. As the years go by, it discloses that in many cases, adults either do not know the answers or are afraid of offending children’s sensibilities. This leads to the question of what “being older “really means and whether age or experience defines the ability to philosophize. This article concludes that neither determine it, since even a child without academic knowledge can formulate complex questions. Finally, it warns of the danger of forgetting the importance of philosophy in a modern world saturated with instant answers and recalls Mary Midgley’s idea of philosophy as a hidden and essential network, like the plumbing of a city.