I’ve been hearing about this book, The Philosophical Baby by Alison Gopnik, for a while now. Being up to my ears in baby, I thought, “yeah right, like I have time to read about the philosophy of babies when I’m living the reality of babies.” Give me some advice I can use, dammit! But, my mind is changing the more I hear and read about it.
In her book, Gopnik talks about babies as little learning machines, uninhibited by experience and open to the free flow of information from the world. If you’ve ever just sat and watched your baby, you know Gopnik on to something.
Each and every item in a baby’s vision is a morsel of knowledge, something to be explored. Gopnik backs up her argument with neuroscience, stating that a baby’s brain is steeped in neurotransmitters that allow for more neuropathways. Now, I don’t know diddley about the science behind it, but I liken it to this scenario…
Ever watched a toddler walk down the sidewalk? They walk in zig zags, exploring all sorts of leaves, rocks, dirt, people passing, everything. Compare that to an adult who walks straight to their destination, hardly even looking up to gaze at passersby. Different pathways.
It has got me to thinking – if I understood a little more about the way a baby’s brain works, then maybe I can help shepherd that brain into adulthood more effectively. For example, it would be good to know when to stay out of a baby’s way and when to intervene. Moreover, if the root of human morality is evident in babyhood, then maybe I can learn a thing or two along the road of knowledge that I am walking down with my daughter.
The book is now on my reading list! As soon as I finish it, I’ll let you know my take. In the meantime, you can buy it at Amazon:
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