Why Children Need Philosophy: A Personal Reflection
Philosophy has long been regarded as the domain of adults—a pursuit requiring years of experience and intellectual maturity. Plato himself argued that children were not ready for philosophical education, suggesting that their minds needed time to develop before engaging with life’s deeper questions. But my own experience challenges this perspective and reveals why children are not only capable of philosophical thought but thrive when given the opportunity to explore it. A Childhood of Questions Growing up in a strict, religious household, my curiosity about the world often felt like a quiet rebellion. Philosophy was never explicitly mentioned, let alone encouraged. Yet, from a young age, I was drawn to questions that reached beyond the surface of my daily life. Who am I? Why does the world work this way? What is the purpose of everything? These were not casual musings—they were deeply felt, persistent questions that shaped my view of the world. Without guidance or support, I began my p...