Asking Big Questions: How Do You Know It's True?

A long, long time ago in a place called Greece, there was a man named Socrates. He had a funny habit. Whenever someone said something, he would ask, 'But how do you know?' He asked so many questions that people called him the wisest man around, just because he loved to wonder. That kind of wondering has a special name. It is called philosophy. And guess what? When you ask 'Why?' and 'How do you know?', you are doing it too!

In this lesson you will: - Learn that philosophy means loving to think and wonder - Practice asking good 'how do you know?' questions - Tell the difference between something you SAW and something you GUESSED - Find out that it is okay to say 'I am not sure yet'

Some questions have quick answers. 'What color is the grass?' Green! Easy. But some questions are BIG. 'What makes someone a good friend?' 'Is it ever okay to tell a fib?' 'How do we know we are not dreaming right now?' Big questions do not have one quick answer. You have to stop and think. That thinking IS philosophy, and it is fun.

Here is a thinking trick. When someone tells you something, ask yourself: did they SEE it, or did they GUESS it? If your friend says, 'The cookies are gone,' and the plate is empty, they SAW it. That is a strong reason. If your friend says, 'The dog ate the cookies,' but nobody saw the dog do it, that is a GUESS. It might be true, or it might not. A good thinker knows the difference.

Sometimes you think and think and you still are not sure. That is okay! Even the smartest grown-ups say 'I do not know yet' about big questions. Saying 'I am still wondering' is not giving up. It means you are being honest and you are still thinking. That is one of the bravest things a thinker can do.