"The only thing we require to be good philosophers is the faculty of wonder." Plato

Wonder is hard to define. Dictionary.Com proposes several different definitions. "One that arouses awe, astonishment, surprise, or admiration; a marvel" or "The emotion aroused by something awe-inspiring, astounding, or marvelous." It could also be "An event inexplicable by the laws of nature; a miracle" or "A monumental human creation regarded with awe, especially one of seven monuments of the ancient world that appeared on various lists of late antiquity." Oftentimes it's simply "A feeling of puzzlement or doubt." It is a thing, and an emotion, something one feels, experiences, and also sees. It could be something outside oneself, but also within oneself. Though one should note that for a thing to BE a "wonder", one must FEEL wonder for that certain thing.

What does this feeling have to do with being a philosopher? To define "philosopher" or "philosophy" is harrowing-- the definition site gives a slew of meanings that I wouldn't even bother writing down here. All I know of being a philosopher is asking questions. To constantly want to know, and to realize that all you know may be absolutely nothing. Philosophers aren't particularly loved throughout history. They're always poking their noses into things they had no business to-- "is this the right way to do this?" or "if this doesn't help anybody, why are you doing it?" or even "why do we have to help anybody anyway?" Philosophers are child-like, in a way. There is something more to them, something that hasn't died yet, when someone grows up. I think the ultimate philosopher, one of many personal heroes, is The Little Prince, from the novel by Antoine St-Exupery.

I felt the definitions of wonder were lacking. I don't think it's very easy to pin that feeling down, but it is something more when wonder is expressed as a "faculty." This means it is an ability, a power, a capability humans possess to DO something.

"I am that which is part of hope. I am that which makes each day new. I am that which makes us want to know, even though we may never know anything. I am part innocence, part truth, and part joy. I am a part of you." It's almost like a riddle, when Wonder is describing itself to me.

I think all children are little philosophers. When they grow older, they lose that something. They become jaded. Each day is like every other. Useless to change things. They stop trying to know things, and go after what they are used to. At several points in my life I was close to losing my Wonder. I was close to giving up, doing what everyone told me to, and not to follow my dreams. But I always stop myself from fully growing up, I always realize that there's still so much to see, to understand, about everyone else and myself. I still wonder... and in so wondering, in this insatiable curiosity, this drive to know and understand, I open my eyes, and continue, despite what anyone else says of me.

This is what I know of myself, as a philosopher (albeit an amateur one), and of my Wonder.