Philosophy is often thought of as a body of knowledge; but this idea makes little sense, because for virtually every significant statement that one philosopher makes, it is possible to find another who will disagree with it. It is better to consider philosophy as a method of enquiring into very fundamental questions that do not yield to the methods of science. In the Western tradition, since the time of Socrates, this method can be characterised by a form of relentless questioning, in which the answer to one question only leads to a further question, and so on, and on and on. Readers of Plato will know what I mean. And so will parents of small children.
(Peter Singer)

Let’s reverse Ludwig Wittgenstein’s assertion that Philosophers are often like little children, who first scribble random lines on a piece of paper with their pencils, and now ask an adult 'What is that?”.

What to think about the inverted viewpoint? Are little children, in their natural curiosity about the world, in their turn often like philosophers? Are we all born as budding philosophers and likely to lose part of our philosophical versatility of mind when growing up, our gift and ability to marvel about the world and the mystifying truth of existing evaporating or fading on the way, getting snowed under thick layers of rooted assumptions, no longer saluting the new day rising like Paul Van Ostaijen’s Marc greeting the things in the morning?

Marc greets things in the morning
Hi boy with the bike on the vase on the bloom
ploom ploom
hi chair by the table
hi bread on the table
hi fisher-of-fish with the pipe
and
hi fisher-of -fish with cap
cap and pipe
of the fisher-of-fish


H i i i —i fish
hi little fish
hi tiny fishy-fine of mine

(Translation byJames Holmes)

Mark groet ’s morgens de dingen
Dag ventje met de fiets op de vaas met de bloem
ploem ploem
dag stoel naast de tafel
dag brood op de tafel
dag visserke-vis met de pijp
en
dag visserke-vis met de pet
pet en pijp
van het visserke-vis
goeiendag

D a a —a g vis
dag lieve vis
dag klein visselijn mijn

Though I have to admit having been underwhelmed by Jostein Gaarder’s Sophie's World (a friend who read the original told me that was probably due to the uneven translation in Dutch), I was curious to read Questions Asked together with my 11 year old daughter, to explore if she, with a fresh and unbiased view would inspire some insights I had become blind to in my adult insularity. As a parent I came to intuit there are certain essential resemblances between philosophical thinking and how children look at the world. Both tend to simply question everything, ranging from the meaning of existence and how to live a decent life to science, society, the universe, infinity. For every attempt on answering puzzlement, a new question arises.

In Question Asked the Norwegian philosopher and author Jostein Gaarder poses a range of fundamental and unsettling questions about existence, the meaning and knowability of life and the world we live in. Where does the world come from? Has there always been something here? Why am I alive? Why does the world exist? Why is there anything at all? Can anyone know what I think? How do I talk? How do I find the exact words I need from all the words in my head? Why do I dream? What goes on in my head when I’m asleep? Are experiences more real when I’m awake than when I’m dreaming? Can I be sure that all my memories really happened? What is a good friend? What shall I do with my life?

As Gaarder doesn’t give any answers at all, the questions invite the reader to further reflection and to answer the questions for himself, which enables adults both to contemplate on the questions for themselves and recapture some sense of wonder to the world, and to exchange thoughts and ideas together with children, giving them space to clarify and verbalise their own thoughts on how they see the world by further questioning and listening.

Parallel to these questions, like singing and winding another melody in counterpoint around the questions, illustrator Akin Düzakin tells a oneiric, melancholic story about a boy who we see walking through the woods with his dog, finding and opening a jewel box of memories, in which can be sensed the power of memory, friendship, grief for the loss of a friend, perhaps twin sibling, and the unfathomability of the future, and possibly a variety of other associations and interpretations depending on and relating to the reader’s own life story.

However at first glance the questions and the pictorial story are not related, the strength of this dreamy picture book is in the juxtaposition of the questions and the pictures and their complementarity, resulting in an engaging poetic journey to give thought to what we often take for granted, a journey to walk together with a friend, your children or in class, as much of what you will bring out from this book will depend on the ensuing dialogue.

On the question ‘What are the most important things in life?’ the daughter answered ‘love, friendship, music and hugs’. Add books, and her mother would tend to nod in agreement.

An interesting mix of philosophical questions paired with an illustrated journey. Questions Asked asks questions that we don't easily have answers to. It's an engaging book that will spur deep conversation. Make sure you're ready for it.

A really spectacular book to read with your children. It asks so many thought provoking questions which can in turn prompt the most amazing conversations! Would highly recommend it.

This book introduces readers to complex philosophical questions presented in a simple format.

Beautiful illustrations, captivating plot and engaging questions. I loved it and would recommend it to everyone. The book is a must read for every one

This is a well done book for a thoughtful older child/young adult. It poses some of life's most difficult, unanswerable questions, in quiet and unthreatening ways, opening the possibility for further thought and discussion. It is nicely illustrated with soft-focused paintings that capture, for me, the emotions behind the thoughts. These are universal human expressions, ones that children always ask and adults often have difficulty managing. Questions about God or god, about death or life or illness, about the world, about storms, about emotions. This book allows a gentle entry into those discussions via the young person in the book who walks through the forest and the questions. It is only the questions. No easy answers--as there are none.

While reading a review copy of a re-release of Madeleine L'Engle's A Circle of Quiet, which is a memoir of writing and a soul searching look at the world, she wrote a bit that made me think of this book. Mankind is always in the human predicament, and this is what people write about. A good children's book is not easier to write than a good adults' book, and it poses to the writer the identical problem of trying to communicate his vision in a language that is not obsolete. (loc 2643)

This is a definitely recommended.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

"Where does the world come from? Has there always been something here? Or has it all come from nothing? (Jostein Gaarder)

I am almost lost for words after reading this book. I was so engrossed in the philosophical journey the little boy was on that I was surprised when the end came. and I didn't want it to finish. The only way to describe this book by Jostein Gaarder is that it's a book of questions that have no answers. The answers aren't needed because this book is designed for children to think deeply and explore philosophy.

I have never read a book like this before for children, it is unique and Is good for brain development and independently think things through.

Akin Duzakin illustrations are in a Dream like state, they weren't sharp and clear but a bit muffled and suited the style of the book.

A gorgeous book that will make a wonderful addition to your picture book collection.

Questions - not answers. This is a book which raises very important questions and offers no answers. It's designed to affirm the right of children to ask big questions and to provide opportunity for them to think things through either independently or with adults. A useful tool.