Really, Really Big Questions About Life, the Universe, and Everything

This book is billed as the Really Really Big Questions and that just about sums it up. The questions are largely philosophical, although occasionally scientific, and touch on issues such as the origins of life and thought, the nature of morality and the universe, and knowledge.

It's a big book, in terms of cover area, but quite thin and doesn't have much writing for each section - rather, pages are often filled with pictures and just a very brief, teasing piece of text. The back cover suggests that it's suited to key stages 2 and 3 (ages 7-14), although personally I'd say that - at least in terms of presentation - it's really aimed at a younger audience. In my experience, children can be quite philosophical, always curious until taught to take things for granted.

This book isn't really a solution to that curiosity - it's rightly described as a book of questions, rather than answers, but it can encourage children to think about things for themselves. At its best, it presents opposing points of view on a controversial matter (often drawing implicitly on the work of influential philosophers from Descartes to Nagel and beyond), but invites readers to make their own mind up about which side they believe - though sometimes it appears to lead the reader towards a particular conclusion.

I found a few of the discussions rather disappointing - for instance, the last one ('Do Fairies Exist?') simply recounts the story of the faked Cottingley photographs. For the most part, however, this looks like an interesting attempt to introduce philosophy to younger children. Those thinking about serious study at A-level, or even GCSE, however, would require something much more rigorous.
Dimensions:10 x 233
Author: Law | Stephen;Choksi
ISBN: 9780753465004
Format: Paperback
Pages 64

Shipping, Tracking & Support - Once your order has been shipped, you will receive a tracking number via email. To Track your order using First Flight Click here.

To know more about shipping rates, delivery areas, and timeline Click here.

Do you want to know more about our refund and return policy ?  Click here.

All prices and charges include 5% tax.

We are here to enhance your online experience, so please let us know how we can improve our services; your opinion matters to us.