Sophies world terms task literature essays essay sauce. The reader is introduced to hilde, a young girl of sophies age, with the same birth date. Find summaries for every chapter, including a sophie s world chapter summary chart to help you understand the book. Throughout the book, we are reminded that philosophy is not the pursuit of someone who has spare time to sit and ponder. Sophies world by jostein gaarder if youre new to philosophy, heres a book that can bend your mind in unimaginable ways. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics. A brilliantly original and fascinating story with many twists and turns, it raises profound questions about the meaning of life and the origin of the universe. Start studying english sophie s world philosophers list. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of sophies world and what it means. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics jostein gaarder, paulette moller on.
Dec 31, 2017 overall, immanuel kants concepts of reasoning have gained significance in the novel sophies world because kants philosophy reinforces one of the key points of sophies world. The theme of philosophy, wisdom, and wonder in sophies. Follow sophies adventures in these three lively, funfilled stories. Sophies a girl who mysteriously receives letters featuring philosophy lessons. In accordance with the wishes of his father he studied theology, but soon showed a decided preference for free philosophical speculation. Just as spinoza believed that god is everywhere in the world and is the world, so too might we say that sophie and her surroundings are all aspects of albert knags semidivine authority. What does sophie see on the inside of a banana peel. I borrowed it from the library because of a recommendation here. Entertainment weekly first, think of a beginners guide to philosophy, written by a schoolteacher. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics kindle edition by gaarder, jostein, moller, paulette. In that work he argues for the view that we should interpret scripture solely on its own terms by carefully studying it, not with any concepts or doctrines that cannot themselves be derived from the text. The best parts of sophie s world are the fictional parts sophie s actual world.
She finds many more postcards to hilde, and some of them are even dated on june 15, the day of sophie will turn 15. Wanting to understand the most fundamental questions of the universe isnt the province of ivorytower intellectuals alone, as this books enormous popularity has demonstrated. Spinoza attempts to prove that god is just the substance of the universe by first stating that substances do not share attributes or essences, and then demonstrating that god is a substance with an infinite number of attributes, thus the attributes possessed by any other substances must also be possessed by god. Sophies world by jostein gaarder is, in my view, a highly successful attempt to write a history of philosophy together with a story. Jostein gaarder the protagonists are sophie amundsen, a 14yearold girl, and alberto knox, her philosophy teacher. Hardcore philosphy scholars will likely dismiss this as merely a broad overview of philosophic thought. One day, she discovers a mysterious letter in her mailbox. She begins a strange correspondence course in philosophy. Sophie learns that the ancient greeks believed the world was eternal, and so they did not ask about where it came from but rather were interested in the question of change. The natural philosophers believed that there was one substance that all things were made of.
Every day, a letter comes to her mailbox that contains a few questions and then later in the day a package comes with some typed pages describing the ideas of a philosopher who dealt with the issues raised by the questions. In this short bbc episode of in our time, melvyn bragg and guests discuss the dutch jewish philosopher baruch spinoza. One of the trickiest aspects of spinozas argument is the idea that thought and matter are two different versions of the same substance. Moreover, there is enough about the wonder and magic of philosophy in sophie s world to make some readers reach for their guns. What other book might you compare sophie s world to and why. One day fourteenyearold sophie amundsen comes home from. In the event things got worse, and spinoza gave up the idea of publishing the ethics, believing that it would create such a cloud of hostility as to obscure, in the minds even of reasonable people, the real meaning of its arguments. She encounters first some odd philosophical questions and then the first chapter of a written philosophy course in her mailbox. Kant believed that unbiased knowledge of the world is impossible. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. It is probably possible to slip in knowledge that would normally be above a childs level using this writing style i.
Jul 26, 2015 have you read sophies world or have an interest in philosophy. This book contains a novel mantra for those days when the world gets in your face. The defining theme of sophies world is, pretty clearly, philosophy. Its a summary of the history of philosophy written as a novel. Each day, the mysterious stranger introduces her to a new page in the annals of philosophy, and later that day, she sees it somehow applied in her every day life. The washington post book world just as remarkable for its playful premise as it is for its accessibility. Sophies world is a young adult book by norwegian author jostein gaarder. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Sophie s world is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. Hilde is thrilled that her father has written this book for her, yet she becomes annoyed in how her father is treating the characters sophie and alberto. Newsweek terrifically entertaining and imaginative.
Paulette moller one day sophie comes home from school to find two questions in her mail. Sophies world download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. But the history of philosophy is very well done and informative. Click download or read online button to get sophie s world book now. Jostein gaarder does a very good job not just by writing a concise history of philosophy, but also by writing a very accessible book for as far as early teenagers, which in itself is. The different philosophers from sophies world learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. Dec 05, 1991 sofies verden sophie s world, jostein gaarder sophie s world is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. The essential charm of sophies world lies in the innocent curiosity of the young character, and the clever narrative structure gaarder designed to pique it. It follows the events of sophie amundsen, a teenage girl living in norway, and alberto knox, a middleaged philosopher who introduces her to philosophical thinking and the history of philosophy. Sep 25, 1994 moreover, there is enough about the wonder and magic of philosophy in sophies world to make some readers reach for their guns. More praise for the international bestseller that has become europes oddball literary sensation of the decade new york newsday a pageturner.
Sophies world is probably the best way to learn about philosophy. Click download or read online button to get sophies world book now. This question alone is what embarks sophie, the main character in the novel, on a never ending journey of questions and through the world of philosophy. Even more redeeming is the fictional portion of the novel, so although readers may grow bored and want to skip over the philosophy lesson bits, youll still find yourself being pulled in enough to finish the entire lengthy book. A pageturning novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of western thought, sophie s world has fired the imagination of readers all over the world, with more than twenty million copies in print. Pdf sophie s world download full pdf book download.
Sophie starts to learn about the historical beginnings of philosophy. Baruch spinoza was a seventeenthcentury dutch philosopher who tried to reinvent religion moving it away from something based on superstition and ideas of direct divine intervention to being a discipline that was far more impersonal, quasiscientific and yet also, at all times, serenely consoling. Sophies world a novel about the history of philosophy. This is the start of sophie s adventure in philosophy from the greeks to descartes, from spinoza to hegel, marx and freud. A phenomenal worldwide bestseller, sophie s world sets out to draw teenagers into the world of socrates, descartes, spinoza, hegel and all the great philosophers. It seems impossible that this could be true,and yet sophie s world the novel itselfhelps us understand spinoza s ideas by illustrating them in the plot of the book. In sophies world, love abounds, kindness is around every corner, and people helping people happens every day. Spinozas philosophy encompasses nearly every area of philosophical discourse, including metaphysics, epistemology, political philosophy, ethics, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of science. I wasnt particularly interested in the story as such. One day sophie comes home from school to find two questions in her mail.
The philosophy of spinoza alfred weber b aruch benedict spinoza,1 spinosa, or despinoza, was born at amsterdam, in 1632, of portuguese jewish parents, who were, it seems, in good circumstances. Alberto, an intelligent man, guides sophie through the. The novel part is a bit strange and awkward, but it was entertaining enough to keep my interests. Spinoza s most famous and provocative idea is that god is not the creator of the world, but that the world is part of god. The book will serve as a firstrate introduction to anyone who never took an introductory philosophy course, and as a pleasant refresher for those who have and have forgotten most of it. It goes from presocratic philosophy all the way to sartre. Man thought it was so astonishing to be alive that philosophical questions arose of their own accord. It follows sophie amundsen, a norwegian teenager who is introduced to the history of philosophy by alberto knox, a middleaged philosopher. Her best friend is greatgreataunt al from scotland, who looks a bit like a bird, and her worst enemy is the dreadful dawn. For the radical thinkers of the enlightenment, he was the first man to have. This novel is a great substitute for a boring philosophy book.
The novel chronicles their metaphysical relationship as they study western philosophy. Thus begins jostein gaarders unique novel, which is not only a mystery, but also a complete and entertaining history of philosophy. Hilde is totally involved in reading the philosophy book about sophie and alberto. Then, as sophies education continues, the hilde situation begins to get more complicated. Alberto, an intelligent man, guides sophie through the ancient greeks, the medieval thinkers, and enlightenment and romantic idealists. Sophie is a one of a kind adventurer, where every day is a new adventure in kindness.
It seems impossible that this could be true,and yet sophies world the novel itselfhelps us understand spinozas ideas by illustrating them in the plot of the book. This means that everything in the material world happens through necessity. Sophies world chapter 18, descartes, chapter 19, spinoza. The book will serve as a firstrate introduction for anyone who never took an introductory philosophy course, and as a pleasant refresher for those who have. The book follows main character sophie, a young girl who is fourteen years old and living with her parents in norway. Sophie s world is a novel about the history of western philosophy. Uncorrected paperswallace matson 4 excellent essays on spinoza start there. Sophie amundsen is fourteen years old when the book begins, living in norway.
Have you read sophie s world or have an interest in philosophy. The ethics spinoza s main work, is exposed as is a treatise on geometry. A novel about the history of philosophy enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. One day sophie comes home from school to find two questions in her mailbox. Sophies world is an outline of western philosophy that is beautifully set in a fictional story. Then at the end of sophies world, the book that hilde is reading, while at a party for sophie on june 15, alberto and sophie disappear. I just started reading sophies world by josten gaarder and am curious what the general consensus on this book is. Gaarder was a philosophy teacher, so it isnt really surprising that sophie s world is so heavy on philosophy. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Sophie s world download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Satre believed philosophy began with our humanity, and because we are human who know ourselves, we know our essence and full existence. Sofies verden is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. Sophies world is a novel about the history of western philosophy.
There may be other books like sophie s world, but it was unique to me, which makes it hard to compare to other books. God is not a puppeteer god or nature as a single infinite substance, with mind and matter being two incommensurable ways of conceiving the one reality. When she was 14 years old, sophie met a mysterious mentor who presented her philosophy, the mysteries of deepening in her own lifewhy, she only gets it from postcards addressed to another girlwhos the other girland who, by the way, is sophieto solve the enigma, she uses her new knowledge of philosophy, but the truth is much stranger than she. Before she knows it she is enrolled in a correspondence course with a mysterious philosopher. A summary of the natural philosophers, democritus, and fate in jostein gaarders sophies world. Western philosophy in accounts that are crystal clear. Mar 20, 2007 sophies world by jostein gaarder is, in my view, a highly successful attempt to write a history of philosophy together with a story. A whimsical and ingenious mystery novel that also happens to be a history of philosophy. When she was 14 years old, sophie met a mysterious mentor who presented her philosophy, the mysteries of deepening in her own lifewhy, she only gets it from postcards addressed to another girlwhos the other girland who, by the way, is sophieto solve the enigma, she uses her new knowledge of philosophy, but the truth is much stranger than she would have imagined. Hildes father comes home and they talk about the book, and hilde is sure that sophie exists somewhere.
Daily mail what is admirable in the novel is the utter unpretentiousness of the philosophical lessons, the plain and workmanlike prose which manages to deliver western philosophy in accounts that are crystal clear. This is the start of sophies adventure in philosophy from the greeks to descartes, from spinoza to hegel, marx and freud with a mysterious mentor whose identity is unknown. The theme of philosophy, wisdom, and wonder in sophies world. Sophie s world the side story is kind of lightweight, and i almost put the novel down because of that, however, sophie s narrative provides the little breaks in the philosphical passages that allow you to digest the ideas presented. Before she knows it, she is enrolled in a correspondence course, covering. Sophie is a little girl with big blue eyes, big curly red hair, and big ideas. A pageturning novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of western thought, sophies world has fired the imagination of readers all over the world, with more than twenty million copies in print. Spinoza s philosophy of religion is largely contained in the theologicopolitical treatise. Start a free trial of quizlet plus by thanksgiving lock in 50% off all year try it free ends in 00d 08h 20m 43s. Have you read sophies world or have an interest in philosophy. English sophies world philosophers list flashcards quizlet. It is heartening to know that a book subtitled a novel about the history of philosophy was not only a bestseller in france, but for a while europes hottest novel. Learn the important quotes in sophies world and the chapters theyre from, including why theyre important and what they mean in the context of the book.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Sophie s world became a bestseller in norway and won the deutscher jugendliteraturpreis in 1994. If youre new to philosophy, heres a book that can bend your mind in unimaginable ways. The problem is that june 15 is still over a month away. The washington post book world a rare bird indeed, a short history of western philosophical thought from. A novel about the history of philosophy by jostein gaarder online at alibris. As the book moves along, sophie amundsen, a teenaged girl, learns important lessons in the history of western philosophy from her teacher, alberto knox.
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