Why? Right, but Why?

Children are not aware of limitations.  They just figure that if there’s something they don’t know, it’s because they haven’t learned it yet.

“Why’s the sun round?”

“Because there’s a big fire at the center, and as it moves outward, it cools equally.”

“Why?”

“Because heat cools at a standard rate.”

“Why?”

“Uh… because…”

Children are endlessly curious.  It can drive an adult crazy because  we are confronted with how little we truly know, and how tenuous our existence is.  A child can lead us to an existential crisis in three “Whys?”

~ Alan Watt