To wonder– to question– is an inextricable aspect of the human condition. It is this will that prevails through uncertainty and chaos. This critical study, in which every facet is torn apart and examined at the most fundamental level, whether that be questions of existence, ethics, reason, or reality, is defined as philosophy. 

However, in today’s society, we are often encouraged to not think deeply about things and accept how they are. If this deeper questioning is met with dismissal and overlooked, we begin to foster a generation that is not philosophically conscious. 

As Russell puts it, the “food for the mind” (philosophical pursuit) is just as crucial as “food for the body” (biological health). The “food for the mind” cultivates a sense of wonder–it encourages us to live with uncertainty, frees the mind from prejudices and bias, and enlarges our overall perspective. A society of merely healthy people is not sustainable; the same needs must be met for the mind as well. A generation that does not wonder is one that does not grow. It is not just intellectually poor; it is diminished in its humanity.