This is a classic for P4C enthusiasts. Who in this field has not heard the famous part in the documentary “Socrates for 6 Year Olds”:
“Last night, I was in my bed, and I said to myself, “Elfie, are you asleep?” I touched my eyes, and they were open, so I said, “No, I’m not asleep.”
Suddenly, I thought “that can be wrong. Maybe a person could sleep with her eyes open”.
Then I said to myself, “Right now, Elfie, you’re wondering, and since you’re wondering, you must be thinking! And if you’re thinking then, no matter what Seth says, you’re for real!”
I read this to my 7 year old over the course of several days. We would occasionally stop and discuss something philosophical. Before the evening I would look over the teacher manual to see if I could find some interesting questions or concepts to discuss. Occasionally I would use these but I found my daughter’s natural questions and reactions to the story was easier and worth exploring instead. However I do like that the text boldens the concepts mentioned in the teaching manual. The teaching manual can be explored without the text as separate lessons plans in their own right.
Very quick read, undoubtably Lipman’s shortest philosophical novel.