Nasty, Brutish, and Short

Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids

De: Scott Hershovitz

Narrado por: Scott Hershovitz

An NPR Best Book of 2022 * One of Christian Science Monitor's 10 best books of May

“This amazing new book . . . takes us on a journey through classic and contemporary philosophy powered by questions like ‘What do we have the right to do? When is it okay to do this or that?’ They explore punishment and authority and sex and gender and race and the nature of truth and knowledge and the existence of God and the meaning of life and Scott just does an incredible job.” —Ryan Holiday, The Daily Stoic

Some of the best philosophers in the world gather in surprising places—preschools and playgrounds. They debate questions about metaphysics and morality, even though they’ve never heard those words and can’t tie their shoes. They’re kids. And as University of Michigan professor of philosophy and law Scott Hershovitz shows, they can help grown-ups solve some of life’s greatest mysteries.

Hershovitz has two young sons, Rex and Hank. From the time they could talk, he noticed that they raised philosophical questions and tried to answer them. They re-created ancient arguments and advanced entirely new ones. That’s not unusual, Hershovitz says. Every kid is a philosopher.

Powered by questions like: Does Hank have the right to drink soda? Is it ever okay to swear? and, Does the number six exist? the Hershovitzes take us on a fun romp through classic and contemporary philosophy. If we join kids on philosophical adventures, Hershovitz argues, we can become sharper thinkers and recapture their wonder at the world.

©2022 Scott Hershovitz (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Hershovitz . . . mixes wit and wisdom in this thoroughly enjoyable philosophical tour that uses conversations with the author’s two sons to demonstrate that 'anyone can do philosophy and every kid does’ . . . Fun anecdotes abound, and Hershovitz demonstrates how to engage children by taking them seriously, teaching them to ask questions, and encouraging them to explore the world—things adults can learn from, as well. This sincere and smart account puts to rest the idea that philosophy belongs in academia’s ivory tower.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"By wryly recounting conversations he has with Rex and Hank during bath time, before bed, on the way to and home from school, Hershovitz sets out to prove that philosophy, like inquisitive, rowdy children, can offer illuminating insights . . . From his perspective, a mind that's most receptive to complexities and compassion would likely belong to a child, someone, I presume, a lot like the little prince in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's unforgettable classic. Perhaps Hershovitz is like the fox figure who tells the little prince (and us) his ‘simple secret,’ that ‘it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.’" —Thúy Đinh, NPR

“Let us not ignore the radical nature of this. A philosopher, a man, has written a whole book arguing that the setting of the home and the daily act of parenting can lead to profound philosophical insight and debate . . . Hershovitz’s book has already enhanced my philosophical conversations with my children . . . I learn so much from these conversations, intellectually and—a territory philosophy tends to avoid—emotionally.” —Elissa Strauss, The Atlantic

Excellent

I like this book so much I ordered a print copy. Hopefully there will be a part two. It would be great to explore some of the ideas in greater detail. Highly recommend this book.

Enlightening and interesting

I heard the author interviewed on Freakonomics and knew I would like the book, but it actually exceeded my expectations. It’s a combination of sweet and serious. It delves into most of the major topics of philosophy through the eyes of children and their innate way of picking out the thorniest questions of existence. The best thing I could say is that it changed how I relate to my philosopher 4-year-old.

What every teacher should read and assign families.

This author does an outstanding job of surveying how valuable and accessible philosophy for all can be…and with welcome humor, weight of importance, and humility for such a remarkable contributor to the Usonian legal world. This is both masterpiece and handbook. My students will probably enjoy it more than they ever enjoyed anything else since as this book argues-they are born philosophers (and I hope to keep them in a state of searching for knowledge and wisdom through this book.)

Engaging and fun

This is a wonderful read for anyone who wants a light-hearted introduction to philosophy. I enjoyed how he tied philosophical ponderings to his conversations with his kids as it reminds me of the curiosity and willingness I had to just sit and ponder as a child. I definitely recommend it for casual walks, long drives, or plane rides.

Good narration, solid listen

I enjoyed all the fun stories of the author’s children and it helped me get a sense of how I can incorporate philosophical questioning with every day topics/scenarios with my children. I also liked how he incorporated famous philosophical stories/paradoxes as well. Wasn’t too interested in the chapters on race, gender, God etc… but I can appreciate that those are hot topics and will be of interest to others.

Great recap of a bunch of major threads in philosophy

I was a philosophy major many years ago. I'm rusty and behind on the field, but this is a great summary of a lot of the major questions and some of the more influential answers.

I appreciate the synthesis of classical answers (Descartes, Hume, Kant, etc.) with more modern thinkers. He also does better than my faculty did of bringing in diverse voices, long since past (often unknown until more recently) and present day. Would have liked to see more famous black feminist theorists whose non-admission to the "philosopher" club is IMO a real problem (Patricia Hill Collins and bell hooks, for instance), especially given the reasonably sound discussion of race where they have especially good, unique insights. (And given that other disciplines are represented here.) But he does better than most cis white guy philosophers with not just citing other cis white guys.

I also appreciate the author's humility and focus on methods and disputes instead of just giving us his answers. We could all use more of that approach, for sure.

The convos with his boys are obviously edited for brevity and clarity, and if you can't stand children the hook may be annoying. But I thought it was sincere and charming, and that it added to the book.

Add in solid narration and this is a 5 star listen all around!

Epic

Loved every word. A nice reminder of how best to engage my kids while ensuring they remain open-minded.

Lighthearted Philosophy

A thought provoking casual discussion about philosophy and how even kids can be a window into this seemingly complex world

Philosophy matters

The author made philosophy accessible. His boys made philosophy relevant by bringing it into conversation in the midst of their everyday lives. It becomes a way to understand our experience as human beings well as as mental discipline. What a gift of clear, deep thinking. Read it!

Great way to stop and think

I loved questioning my ideas, actions, and philosophy. I have small children, love them, and have intrinsic parenting values. However, I love the new view points that I learned about how to interact with a better and in a more respectful manner.