Sofia’s World is a work that synthesizes the history of Western philosophy into a novelistic format, this original affirmation made it a well-known and recommended book, this has occurred for its pleasant, simple and intimate language compared to classic long-sentence manuals. and reflections of a person who already has prior knowledge of the subject.
Thus, we are talking about a work that is not intended to be more than it is; and that’s fine, especially for those who want to get an idea of what scholars have thought throughout history, it’s also a beautiful gateway for people who want to delve into the subject.
- Sofia’s World was published in 1991.
- Provoking a real revolution (at that time.
- Few texts simplified philosophy and created a bridge for the most curious).
- It was this work that led the Norwegian philosopher and writer Jostein Gaarder to be considered “one of the most successful Authors in Europe”.
- It has been translated into more than fifteen languages and brought to film in 1999 under the same title by director Erik Gustavson.
- Also Norwegian.
Jostein Gaarder has received several awards dedicated to children’s literature and literature, including the Norwegian National Prize for Literary Criticism and the European Prize for Children’s Literature, among others. His more than fifteen literary works aim to address topics of existential and philosophical interest in an agile and simple style. For some people, “he was the best-selling writer on the planet during the years 1995 and 96. “
Have you ever wondered who I am? “Isn’t it unfair for life to end one day?” “Isn’t it sad that most people have to get sick to realize how good it is to live?” “How was the world created?
These are some of the questions that permeate little Sofia’s thinking from a mysterious letter written by someone who is apparently a philosopher. Thus, the story unfolds around Sofia Amundsen, a girl of almost fifteen years.
The book focuses on forming his identity from the conversations he has with the sender of mystery letters, thereby trying to answer your questions. We see a girl increasingly interested in the complexity of the human being and the world that surrounds him, she addresses issues such as:
“What is philosophy”; “Philosophers of Nature”; “Science of the History and Science of Medicine”; “Who was Socrates”; “Platon”; “Aristotle”; “Religion, Philosophy and Science”; “Neoplatonism”; “Romanticism”; among other things As you can see, this is not a novel to read at once, because its content needs time for a good understanding.
To make you know a little about this book, we will leave you some fragments that are part of the book and that can be useful to discover it, drawing your attention to philosophy, if it is a style you would appreciate. of the lyrics, speaks of Hellenism:
(?) Socrates says he once stood in front of a pole where many objects were displayed. In the end, he exclaimed: “How much I don’t miss!
This exclamation can serve as a title to cynical philosophy, founded by Antistene in Athens around 400 BC. He was a pupil of Socrates and had initially noticed the modesty of his teacher.
Cynics have taught that true happiness does not depend on external things, such as luxury, political power, or good health. True happiness is not about relying on such fortuitous and vulnerable things. And precisely because it does not depend on these things, anyone can achieve it and cannot be lost when it has already been achieved.
Today, the words cynicism and cynicism are used in the sense of un sensitivity to the suffering of others.
After cynics, many philosophers have returned to this idea of happiness, it is attractive to think that by reducing the number of things we depend on (which we need), we will be closer to feeling complete. Easier to determine goals or not to be overwhelmed by our own desire.
Anyway, these are just a few strokes from a book that has seduced several generations, which led many people to study philosophy, as well as helping many teachers who felt unable to discuss the subject with their students.