[SherryTX]

Last night, my 7 year & 9 year old daughters were riding with me to pick up a friend. We were on our way to the Tea Party in Dallas, and were talking about the signs that I printed up at home. (They were drawing their own in the van.) We talked a little bit about why we were doing this, etc. - and someone how the subject of Objectivism came up. I think it was because one of my daughters asked what the acronym of our local Oist group meant. ANYHOO....I told them that a very important part of the philosophy was about existence. I asked them - "you know you exist right?" and they both said well - duh - yeah!

I asked them "well, how do you know that?"

My 7 year old said thought for a few seconds and then said "My 5 senses!"

(The 9 year old proceeded to be obnoxious in her funny way - saying "it's an illusion!" but then reassuring me she was kidding because she did the whole thing dead pan.)

I thought one of them would say something more specific - I guess I wasn't sure what to expect. Olivia, the 7 year old really surprised me. We talk about the philosophy and Ayn Rand, etc., all the time, but we haven't sat down and done a mini-OPAR with them or anything hahah. I think she was just reasoning it out on her own.

I was very pleased. =)

(Hopefully my new avatar picture is showing - that is Olivia at last night's Tea Party in Dallas.)

[Selene]

Sherry:

Precisely. By the way great sign. Apparently, there is an outfit which calculated approximately 179,000 citizens at the approximately 800 tea parties using the "police crowd" estimates that they are required to note.

When I read Atlas at 14ish, I said the same thing, so I believe your daughter is quite wise! Mine was, but of course.

Your daughter gave the argument that I still make today. Our senses. If we find a 6th, 7th, etc. sense, the statement is still valid. It is eternal.

Glad you were so successful and the most important part is that your children see that there is a rational path to think and to express their opinions from a passionate, purposeful and powerful position.

Great job!

Charisma comes from character Sherry, you have it, you will be an excellent facilitator for the "book club" you started.

Adam

This post has been edited by Selene: 16 April 2009 - 10:36 AM

[general semanticist]

SherryTX, on Apr 16 2009, 01:05 PM, said:

I asked them - "you know you exist right?" and they both said well - duh - yeah!

I asked them "well, how do you know that?"

In my whole life I have never encountered a person who questioned his own existence. I can't help wondering why you would bring this up with children. I have had discussions about religion with my children but never existence.

[sbeaulieu]

general semanticist, on Apr 16 2009, 07:59 AM, said:

SherryTX, on Apr 16 2009, 01:05 PM, said:

I asked them - "you know you exist right?" and they both said well - duh - yeah!

I asked them "well, how do you know that?"

In my whole life I have never encountered a person who questioned his own existence. I can't help wondering why you would bring this up with children. I have had discussions about religion with my children but never existence.

The most important paths in life start out in childhood. That Sherry's daughter explained it out the way she did, in a concise answer, tells me she's on the right path to figuring out more answers along that same path.

~ Shane

[general semanticist]

sbeaulieu, on Apr 16 2009, 03:13 PM, said:

The most important paths in life start out in childhood. That Sherry's daughter explained it out the way she did, in a concise answer, tells me she's on the right path to figuring out more answers along that same path.

Oh I am all for getting children to learn to use their mind to it's fullest capacity, but questioning existence is not a method I would use.

[Selene]

AGHHHHH!

[SherryTX]

general semanticist, on Apr 16 2009, 01:34 PM, said:

sbeaulieu, on Apr 16 2009, 03:13 PM, said:

The most important paths in life start out in childhood. That Sherry's daughter explained it out the way she did, in a concise answer, tells me she's on the right path to figuring out more answers along that same path.

Oh I am all for getting children to learn to use their mind to it's fullest capacity, but questioning existence is not a method I would use.

You have a valid point. The reason I did this is because I was curious. When I was younger, I did actually wonder about this (not too seriously) and I have encountered people the past few years (when we were meeting atheists/humanists in the area) that actually would say things like "well, how do I know I even exist?" To me it is a silly question, absolutely. However, I have to admit it was a question on the fly.

Thanks everyone for the comments! =)

[general semanticist]

SherryTX, on Apr 16 2009, 05:38 PM, said:

You have a valid point. The reason I did this is because I was curious. When I was younger, I did actually wonder about this (not too seriously) and I have encountered people the past few years (when we were meeting atheists/humanists in the area) that actually would say things like "well, how do I know I even exist?" To me it is a silly question, absolutely. However, I have to admit it was a question on the fly.

Thanks everyone for the comments! =)

If someone asked me "well, how do I know I even exist?" I would simply respond "If you don't know that there is no point in further discussion"

[Selene]

Good response, I am, under the American President O'Biwan, the MAGNIFICENT, may heaven shine upon Him, appropriating your words since they electronically passed through the States United Peoples Republics of America [SUPRA].

Thank you and all hail O'Biwan

[SherryTX]

general semanticist, on Apr 16 2009, 04:14 PM, said:

SherryTX, on Apr 16 2009, 05:38 PM, said:

You have a valid point. The reason I did this is because I was curious. When I was younger, I did actually wonder about this (not too seriously) and I have encountered people the past few years (when we were meeting atheists/humanists in the area) that actually would say things like "well, how do I know I even exist?" To me it is a silly question, absolutely. However, I have to admit it was a question on the fly.

Thanks everyone for the comments! =)

If someone asked me "well, how do I know I even exist?" I would simply respond "If you don't know that there is no point in further discussion"

Yes - I said that to my oldest two daughters today (not exact words of course).

[sbeaulieu]

Selene, on Apr 16 2009, 11:47 AM, said:

Good response, I am, under the American President O'Biwan, the MAGNIFICENT, may heaven shine upon Him, appropriating your words since they electronically passed through the States United Peoples Republics of America [SUPRA].

Thank you and all hail O'Biwan

Off-topic, but Toyota Supra Mark IVs are awesome! It's the only thing I think about, regardless of the initials

~ Shane

[galtgulch]

SherryTX, on Apr 16 2009, 10:05 AM, said:

Last night, my 7 year & 9 year old daughters were riding with me to pick up a friend. We were on our way to the Tea Party in Dallas, and were talking about the signs that I printed up at home. (They were drawing their own in the van.) We talked a little bit about why we were doing this, etc. - and someone how the subject of Objectivism came up. I think it was because one of my daughters asked what the acronym of our local Oist group meant. ANYHOO....I told them that a very important part of the philosophy was about existence. I asked them - "you know you exist right?" and they both said well - duh - yeah!

I asked them "well, how do you know that?"

My 7 year old said thought for a few seconds and then said "My 5 senses!"

(The 9 year old proceeded to be obnoxious in her funny way - saying "it's an illusion!" but then reassuring me she was kidding because she did the whole thing dead pan.)

I thought one of them would say something more specific - I guess I wasn't sure what to expect. Olivia, the 7 year old really surprised me. We talk about the philosophy and Ayn Rand, etc., all the time, but we haven't sat down and done a mini-OPAR with them or anything hahah. I think she was just reasoning it out on her own.

I was very pleased. =)

(Hopefully my new avatar picture is showing - that is Olivia at last night's Tea Party in Dallas.)

Sherry,

I thought I would mention that there is no age limit in order for a citizen to become a member of the Campaign For Liberty. I would hope that if your delightful, bright daughters ever express a concern for the way things are going that you might consider letting them know that a movement does exist which intends to put things right.

I mean that to include the Objectivist movement, the Libertarian movement, the Austrian economics movement, the individualist movement, the Tax Day Tea Party participants, the pro freedom movement and the Campaign For Liberty which welcomes them all in our cause. Also the Advocates for Self Government, the pro Constitution movement, the End the Fed, the Repeal the Sixteenth Amendment movement, etc

www.campaignforliberty.com 16 Apr 10PM 145823, 11PM 145845 members and counting...

gulch

This post has been edited by galtgulch: 16 April 2009 - 08:56 PM