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The cover of The Philosophical Baby

The Philosophical Baby

Alison Gopnik

What is it like to be a baby, and what can young children teach us about imagination, truth, love and morality?

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At a glance

Author
Alison Gopnik

Why read it

  • You will see babies and young children as powerful learners who explore possibilities and test ideas much as scientists do
  • You will understand why children pretend and invent imaginary friends, and how imagination helps all of us think
  • You will learn how much a child's early life and first attachments shape the adult they become

Who it is for

  • A new parent wondering what goes on in a baby's mind
  • A philosophy lover curious how children think about truth and imagination
  • A teacher or caregiver working with young children

Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. 1. Possible Worlds
  3. WHY DO CHILDREN PRETEND?
  4. 2. Imaginary Companions
  5. HOW DOES FICTION TELL THE TRUTH?
  6. 3. Escaping Plato’s Cave
  7. HOW CHILDREN, SCIENTISTS, AND COMPUTERS DISCOVER THE TRUTH
  8. 4. What Is It Like to Be a Baby?
  9. CONSCIOUSNESS AND ATTENTION
  10. 5. Who Am I?
  11. MEMORY, SELF, AND THE BABBLING STREAM
  12. 6. Heraclitus’ River and the Romanian Orphans
  13. HOW DOES OUR EARLY LIFE SHAPE OUR LATER LIFE?
  14. 7. Learning to Love
  15. ATTACHMENT AND IDENTITY
  16. 8. Love and Law
  17. THE ORIGINS OF MORALITY
  18. 9. Babies and the Meaning of Life

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