about _ through wonder
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A bout
About Through Wonder
Th rough Wonder is a blog exploring themes in philosophy and other related disciplines. The
Greek phrase δια ̀ το ̀ θαυμάζειν (dia to thaumazein) comes from a quote from Aristotle:
διὰτὸθαυμάζειν ο ἱ ἄ νθρω ποι καὶν ῦν καὶτὸπρ ῶτον ἤ ρξαντο φιλοσοφεῖ ν.
Through wonder men began to philosophize, both now and in the beginning.
-Aristotle, Metaphysics, Book 1, 982b
Socrates also describes the relationship between wonder and philosophy:
μάλα γὰ ρ φιλοσόφου τοῦτο τὸπάθος, τὸθαυμάζειν: ο ὐ γὰ ρ ἄ λλη ἀ ρχὴφιλοσοφίας ἢ αὕ τη, καὶ ἔ οικεν ὁ τὴν Ἶ ριν Θαύμαντος ἔ κγονον φήσας οὐ κακῶς γενεαλογεῖ ν.
For this is an experience which is characteristic of a philosopher, this wondering: this is
Through Wonder
δια ̀ το ̀
θαυμάζειν
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where philosophy begins and nowhere else. And the man who made Iris the child of
Thaumas was perhaps no bad genealogist.
-Socrates in the Platonic Dialogue Theaetetus, 155d
Wonder is the beginning of philosophy. As we gaze at the world around us, we wonder
about the workings of nature and the workings of humans. Through wonder, we begin to
ask questions in search of wisdom. Philosophy, as the love of wisdom, springs from the
pursuit of these questions. This blog does not pretend to provide the answers but hopes to
offer musings which will direct us toward wisdom.
The banner image is a picture taken on the author’s trip to the Volcano National Park on
The Big Island in Hawaii. The flowers are from the ōhiʻa lehua tree which are able to grow
despite the volcanic ash around them. These bright red flowers seem to offer hope in the
face of the black and lifeless environment caused by the destruction of a volcanic eruption.
Wisdom is like this red flower: rare, hard to find, durable, and bright, in the face of darkness.
About the Author
Hannah Lyn Venable is an Adjunct Instructor of Philosophy at the University of Dallas. She is
also pursuing her PhD in philosophy there. Her undergraduate work was done at the
University of Texas where she received degrees in Philosophy and Music (piano). She went
on to study theology and philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary where she received
a Master of Arts in Christian Thought. She also received a Master of Arts in Philosophy at
the University of Auckland where she wrote her thesis on Existential Aesthetics. Herinterests are in existentialism, philosophy of religion, phenomenology, post-modernism,
aesthetics and the human.
She recently published her first article in Philosophy & Theology entitled “Situating
Melancholy in Kierkegaard’s The Concept of Anxiety.”
She lives in Irving, Texas with her husband and three little girls.
Disclosures
All opinions expressed on this blog are the opinion of the author. The opinions do not
represent any institution or community. The author receives no goods or services for the
recommendation or condemnation of any particular viewpoint.
All images on the blog are either the author’s own images or images found from the internet
via a google search. If anyone would like an image removed, please contact the author.
However, Plato’s use of wonder and Aristotle’s use of wonder mostlikely have different connotations. Aristotle’s notion of wonder implies ascientific curiosity which will only be satisfied when the answer is found.But Plato has a broader notion of wonder: it is not a problem to be solved,but a mystery to be enjoyed. The further we pursue philosophy the morewe will discover such mysteries in which we can take great delight.
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4 THOUGHTS ON “ABOUT”
Pingback: Reflections on Wonder (with Reference to Marcel) | Through Wonder
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See this blog post for more information on how to get a copy.[2]
Renee Boelsche
on December 29, 2012 at 10:31 am said:
Looking forward to following! I had forgotten about your blog:( So glad you
mentioned it!
Matt Boulter
on May 10, 2013 at 9:23 pm said:
Really cool blog!
Thanks!
http://religiocity.org/http://www.diatothaumazein.com/2014/03/article-published-situating-melancholy-in-kierkegaards-the-concept-of-anxiety/http://englishwotd.com/2014/01/22/thaumazein-%ce%b8%ce%b1%cf%85%ce%bc%ce%ac%ce%b6%cf%89/http://www.diatothaumazein.com/2013/03/reflections-on-wonder-with-reference-to-marcel/