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| Why kids ask "why"? | |
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| Topic Started: Apr 1 2015, 04:09 PM (462 Views) | |
| Nikki | Apr 1 2015, 04:09 PM Post #1 |
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Omniheurist
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I'm struggling with a question that I've have encountered while trying to develop a philosophical essay on explanation and understanding. I've been Googling and searching lots of journal articles, but I've found nothing useful and I'm starting to get frustrated. So I've decided to change and pursue a completely alternative approach: Golden Sunrise Brainstorm! It's a very simple question, but I think my imagination is constrained by all the things I have read, and your bias-free opinion can give powerful insights! So: Why do you think 4-year old kids constatly ask why things are as they are? What do they gain by learning why the sky is blue, rather than simply learning that the sky is blue? Any kind of help will be greatly appreaciated!
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| Flamy | Apr 1 2015, 04:11 PM Post #2 |
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Token Bad Teammate
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We desire an explanation to things. Hence, religion. Aside from, of course, throwing spinning Bibles to kill demons. EMBRACE THE POWER OF RELGION, indeed. |
| Go now, exceed fate. Grasp for your desires! | |
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| Sagie | Apr 1 2015, 04:13 PM Post #3 |
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crotchety
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Have you tried looking for scholarly pieces that discuss when and how kids learn about cause/effect. That age bracket seems like it might be a prime time for kids to be interested in a) what causes things, or effectively "why" but also b) what might be the effects of the things they themselves do. |
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| Catman | Apr 1 2015, 04:18 PM Post #4 |
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Loneliest Stardust Crusader
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Curiosity is the key |
WHY ARE WE STILL HERE... ...JUST TO SUFFER?!
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| Ashtoro | Apr 1 2015, 04:28 PM Post #5 |
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Paladin of Hallowed Light
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Isn't it just part of their development? They've just reached the point where they understand that they don't know things and want to learn and understand the world, but assume that their parent knows everything. But all answers only raise further questions. If you tell a child why the sky is blue, they're going to have no idea what you're talking about, but instead of just immediately giving up they'll ask "why" again. Sooner or later they'll get to the limit of the parent, or anyone's, understanding. I'd guess that how the parent handles this curiosity has a significant impact on how they perform in educational and academic endeavours later in life. |
| -- Ashtoro | |
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| Harly | Apr 2 2015, 02:35 AM Post #6 |
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#HarlyforHarly20Harly
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I think it is because kids hate when things are arbitrary. In my experience, it is not "why is the sky blue" that kids ask, but rather asking why a decision was made or why they were treated a certain way, because without a reason the rather feels like an attack. For children, after all, unfairness is the cardinal sin. To them, there must be a reason, because the only alternative is the whoever it is that is making the decision or is treating them a certain way is doing it of spite or because they don't like them. Because, if there is no reason, then why wouldn't you make the decision that was to their benefit? This is exactly why sayings things like "Because I said so!" as a parent is so terrible and ineffective. |
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"He walked down, for a long while avoiding looking at her as at the sun, but seeing her, as one does the sun, without looking." Awards! Certificate of Not Being A Loser Baronly Crest
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| Nikki | Apr 2 2015, 10:42 AM Post #7 |
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Omniheurist
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Thanks for your comments! |
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| WitchRolina | Apr 2 2015, 11:36 AM Post #8 |
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Missing the Unified Aesthetic
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That's easy. A desire to learn. To them, they're in a new world filled with wonder. They want to know all they can about it, from how the world works, to society's rules and why they're like that. Not telling them why, or just saying "because I said so", prevents them from having context, and without that, they're probably gonna get frustrated and act up. Lord knows that with all the "because I said so"s I got, I actively fought back against my mom. The two of us are barely on speaking terms after a decade, so... yeah, don't just blow off your kids. It may be frustrating at times, but raising kids is a job - it's not all fun and games, it's hard work. |
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| Silva | Apr 3 2015, 07:00 AM Post #9 |
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Fiercer than the Dark
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I think that learning why something exists or why something is in its current state is important to what makes a human more intellectually capable than any other animal. These questions form the basis, alongside the "how" question, of all human engineering and achievements. If we know how and why something good is the way it is, we can mimic it - if we know how and why something is bad, then we can avoid those methods and situations. I daresay it's part of why our particular flavour of human survived long enough to create what is now civilisation. It's very natural to ask why, because without "why" there is no "why not". I think that "why" helps define the limits of what is within a child's control, and the answer defines part of what morality is, so it's critical to development. If we fail to answer a child's "why" question, then this can create an unknown part of knowledge, which is chaotic and fearful for a child, who (if brought up very carefully and lovingly) may still believe that their parents are like gods, infallible and perfect. It can be an essential lesson in human mental fallibility. Intelligence basically functions through humanity trying to find meaning in the darkness, and understand and control the world around us, I think. |
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| Nikki | Apr 3 2015, 08:51 AM Post #10 |
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Omniheurist
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Again, thanks
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