SOPHIE’S WORLD

“Sophie’s World” is a novel written by the Norwegian author, Jostein Gaarder, in 1991. The novel explores the history of philosophy through the eyes of its teenage protagonist, Sophie Amundsen. The book begins with Sophie receiving a series of letters in the mail that introduce her to the subject of philosophy. The letters are sent by an enigmatic figure named Alberto Knox, who becomes her teacher and guides her through the history of Western philosophy, from ancient Greece to the present day. As Sophie studies the various philosophers and their ideas, she also becomes embroiled in a mystery involving her own past and the identity of Alberto Knox. Therefore, if you are interested in exploring the topics of PET further, and in a more fictional way, the book is definitely a good fit for you. The novel explores a wide range of philosophical ideas and covers many of the major philosophers and movements, including figures such as Socrates, Descartes, Nietzsche, and many others. One of the main themes of the novel is the concept of reality, and how different philosophers have understood it throughout history. For example, Sophie studies the idea of the “cogito” proposed by Descartes, which states that the only thing that can be certain is one’s own existence, and that all other knowledge must be built upon this foundation. She also looks at the idea of the “world as will and representation” put forward by Schopenhauer, which posits that the world is essentially a projection of the individual’s will. Furthermore, the book touches upon the relationship between the individual and society, many of you have probably included the same topics in your PET exam. In the book, Sophie learns about the ancient Greek concept of the “polis”, or the ideal society, and how it relates to the individual. Additionally, she also studies the ideas of Marx and Engels, who argue that society is shaped by economic forces and that true self is only possible in a socialist society.

Overall, with the book is a perfect fit for IBP students who wish to dive further into political and economic thought. I read the book for the first time around eight years ago, but I recently revisited the book, and I don’t regret it. The book invites the reader to think and reflect on the questions that have been asked by philosophers throughout history, and it’s a great way to discover the richness and diversity of human thought. It’s a true classic in popular philosophy and I will reward it with 5 out of 5 globes.