Teenage Philosophers?

[A Poster He or I]

It's interesting; I too came across Ayn Rand around 19, by a friend who was fervently looking for a solution to his existential dilemmas at the time. Is it magic or something else that brings writers into people's lives at particular stages. Seems like the clothes are made to fit the shoe. I came across Herman Hess around 21. That was a particularly good time to come by his books.

We shared some kind of wavelength, Discards. Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" changed my life at 19. Hermann Hesse's "Steppenwolf" saved my life (I mean that literally) somewhere around age 22 or 23 and in gratitude I ended up reading every one of his novels (except his first one which wasn't available in English).

[Discards]

We shared some kind of wavelength, Discards. Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" changed my life at 19. Hermann Hesse's "Steppenwolf" saved my life (I mean that literally) somewhere around age 22 or 23 and in gratitude I ended up reading every one of his novels (except his first one which wasn't available in English).

Wow. I'll not ask how this book saved your life, but I'm happy it did (even though I don't know you personally). I was influenced greatly by the part in Steppenwolf... "for Madmen only." You can see in Herman Hesse's writing that he had a world view like none other. And in that part of the book I was opened to that world view.

I was going through difficult times at the age of 21. I was in an inexpressibly deep depression and had no connection to reality. I read Siddhartha, fell asleep, and woke up with a vision of heaven in a warm light of brightness. It was like a halo. You probably can appreciate Hesse's style of somehow abstracting all of his work away from time. That is what I like about Hess. He creates a world of permanence in his writing.

There is something strange in that people often come across similar books at similar times in their lives. I have met other people who this applies for. It could be a coincidence or could be related to the subject matter. But as to how people get their hands on these books at these particular times; that seems to be a mystery.

[A Poster He or I]

...You can see in Herman Hesse's writing that he had a world view like none other.... ...You probably can appreciate Hesse's style of somehow abstracting all of his work away from time... ...He creates a world of permanence in his writing...

Total agreement. Moreover I've never encountered another author as effective at this than Hesse, and I have never determined exactly how he does it (and I'm limited to reading him in English translation!)

There is something strange in that people often come across similar books at similar times in their lives. I have met other people who this applies for. It could be a coincidence or could be related to the subject matter. But as to how people get their hands on these books at these particular times; that seems to be a mystery.

I have always scratched my head at that broad phenomenon we call serendipity (what you describe is a form of it). I feel intuitively it is a giant clue toward something that has been staring humanity in the face for eons.

[Prodigy2016]

Hi Alejandro! Allow me to introduce myself: I'm Prodigy2016, a 16 year old philosopher living in Southern California. I totally get how you feel; I'm so not like other kids my age, I'm very interested in philosophy, and I use as much as I could to have a better perspective than the average 16 year old's perspective. Why I also like philosophy is I try to use it to question, justify, defend or condemn certain behaviors, attitudes, and habits teens have(usually American teens). Ultimately I turn to philosophy to help my never-ending quest for meaning.

I just recently posted an argument on the senseless and destructive themes of religion in modern society.

I'd be happy to hear from you sometime. I like your philosophical thinking. As a matter of fact, I believe everyone is a philosopher, regardless of age!

[Thatsage]

TeenPhilosopher, I'd like to ask you what made, or makes, your thirst for knowledge? Why are you so interested in all of that education -- what is the source of that passion?

[Deadshot]

Hello teenagephilosopher I wanted to congrat you with your work on the forum and your responses are highly...intellectual and points to your high intellegence. I am new but I've been studying to be a philosopher and if you can give me guidance and wisdom then I would appreciate it.

[BeastGod]

Hey, new to the site and your post caught my interest. I started philosophy when I was in the first grade and officially started when I was 14(two and a half years ago). I have to expand on what you said about school. I will never forget, when I was in the first grade, there was a question "Is 3-5 possible? If so, how?". So i answered yes, by way of integers making it -2. When I got the test back, it was wrong. I knew it was right, do to me having read some advanced books at the time. I went to the teacher about it, and she stated "This is too advanced to be allowed in this class, therefore it is wrong". I got into this whole argument with her about it, then I started to research on other question for different subjects that I was sure was right, but I got wrong for no reason. They were all right as well, just advanced. The school system did't care for smart individuals, they wanted like-minded idiots. I once read a quote that I felt fit this, "Teachers want students to be independent, innovative thinkers, who do exactly what they say". My brother then proceeded to have the same problem next year when he entered first grade. Now, I am attending college after having home-schooled the first two years of high-school, did nothing, and still passed the ACT with a higher score than the above average high-school graduate. The thing is, even when I attended middle-school, I slept through my classes and passed.

[PhiloSophia]

Like you, I am also a teenage philosopher. I started just this year and I am 14 years old. Philosophy, for me, is becoming aware that you are wearing a blindfold and you seek how to remove that by thinking alone. Using our reason, I believe, is the very essence of being a human. I believe that we start philosophy since we are still kids because during this period, we become curious of the things around us, but as we grown older, it diminishes and now, we (philosophers) want to go back with an open-mind. To think beyond. I guess the very objective of Philosophy is to wander. To think beyond. But then again, not all those who wander are lost. It is also nice, knowing that I am not the only one who started philosophy at a very early age. In my school, (I'm currently grade eight) I guess I am the only one who developed a deep interest in Philosophy which is why I kinda don't talk about it to my classmates but instead, I go to my social studies teacher who teaches me philosophy. I also educate myself by reading books about philosophy.

[Omega666]

Hello there, In deed am absolutely in favor of your ideas. Unfortunately, I am unwilling to mention my name in public forums. However, I myself am also a teenager just like you. I am 14 years old and I live in Mexico. I understand you absolutely, as a matter of fact, I have been punished several times because of my desire to be willing to express the realities of this world. In the school in which I attend, I have been qualified by teachers as a teenager possessing no morals and having not even a single trace of values within myself. Anyway, for me, philosophy is not an art nor a science; I think is a tool. A tool for the pure truth. I think it is the tool to liberate the ignorant from this corrupt world. A tool for humanity´s liberation from the sins of life and death. For me, philosophy is the path for true truth.

[ThinkingMan88]

I got into philosophy when i was a 16. I practiced Taoism and Buddhism. I didn't get into western philosophy till i was 17. If you keep studying at the age your at you may make it as professor. Being a teenage philosopher can be hard. Being a critical thinker and living a meaningful life can be very isolating, even at my age of 28 its the same case. Don't sell your soul to the mainstream like so many teenagers do. Most people are uncritical thinkers and just conform to the mainstream. Yes the school system is flawed. Some teachers don't even like their jobs. I say few people love to learn. You should write an essay to your school board on how the school system can be improved. Keep at the studies. Don't give it all up to fit in. Nerds get beaten up a lot. I would recommend you pump iron and learn martial art self defense techniques on YouTube. Classes are way expensive. Hope this helps!

[Belinda]

I feel optimistic after reading the teenagers' posts. I am sorry that my generation has given you such a legacy, and I love your courage.

[LuckyR]

Teenagers are the perfect people to delve into philosophy, since they have all of the answers. They don't know the questions until their early 20s.

[TheDwazy]

Hello! Twelve, dang that's pretty young for studying all of those subjects. My name is Kyle Moore and I love philosophy, theology, sociology, psychology, and a many other subjects I won't mention here. I have not actually studied these subjects listed very hard; I'm not very good at finding a place to start with such broad subjects. Any help is welcome from anyone.


I too have had trouble finding people thinking similar to me. I tend to write about it in my fiction, although I have written a many speculative essay on a copious array of subjects. I believe that there should be somewhere other than just forums( I still love forums for discussion though) for teens to get together and change today's social, economical, or cultural standards. Maybe something someone wants to get together on?

[Kerry Gold]

I greatly applaud you, TeenagePhilosopher, for your pursuits of things and ideals that genuinely matter. It's "kids" like you that give me some semblance of hope for the next generation. I myself have always been deeply introspective and prone to philosophical thinking but I did not begin to label it as such until well into college when I was finally able to take proper coursework suited to my academic abilities. From 3rd grade to 12th grade I "lost" most of my schooling due to being unable to afford to be placed in the AP programs and left in an overcrowded system that did not teach me how to cope with an ongoing traumatic home situation.

But I am here, now, and determined to make up for lost time and see where the road takes me. I envy you a great deal, but in the nicest of ways: you are very lucky to be able to study those subjects as you wish, and I hope you never walk away from them, no matter how tough the pressure may be from simple-minded bullies throughout the years. I hope, someday, you will be able to walk into a college or university or some sort of academic institution and discover friends who are genuinely like you...it's a stunning experience, to find yourself no longer the odd one out, but at home with many like-minded individuals.

[NidhalTun]

im 20 years old from tunisia i started philosophy last year in study it in faculty and im enjoying very much because i love it ... philosophy give me the freedom to think and to write ... in exams i have the right to answer using my mind not only from what my teachers teach me and this something i have found just in philosophy the exam answer is 50 % Your thinking and 50 % the lesson and this makes u a confident person ... my dream from child hood is to be a philosoph hope one day my dream comes true