num_pages: 384
description: From a University of Michigan professor of law and philosophy a delightfully funny and thought-provoking investigation into lifes biggest questions with the help of fantastic philosophers old and newincluding his two young children Like any new parent Scott Hershovitz closely observed his two young sons Rex and Hank. From the time they could talk he noticed that they raised philosophical questions and were determined to answer them. Children find the world a puzzling place so they try to puzzle it out. Often that leads to profound insight. Sometimes his kids recreated ancient arguments. Sometimes they advanced novel views. Kids are natural philosophers Hershovitz realized. Indeed they are some of the best around. With great humor and storytelling Hershovitz follows an agenda set by Rex and Hank. To start they try to make sense of morality asking questions about rights revenge and authority. Then they try to make sense of themselves inquiring into sex gender and race. Finally they try to make sense of the world exploring the nature of truth the existence of God and other daunting mysteries that most grown-ups have learned to look past. Through the lens of his sons curiosity Hershovitz takes us on an engaging tour through contemporary and classic philosophy. Its a fun romp through the fieldthe class you wish you took in college. We want our children to think deeply about themselves the world around them and their place within it. Hershovitz calls on us to support kids in their philosophical adventures. But more than that he challenges us to join them so that we can become better more discerning thinkers and recapture some of the wonder kids have at the world.
language: English
title: Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids
publisher: Penguin Publishing Group