Ten Life's Philosophy for a Six-Year-Old Living in a Modern World

The start of a new year already. And i still have nothing much to say.

So, inspired by a post from a good blogger friend (where she nentioned Albert Camus' philosophy of absurdism again), and in the spirit of Einstein's "if you can't explain something to a six-year-old, you really don't understand it yourself", here goes:

You see a box of delicious chocolate and a bowl of yummy ice-cream on the table. And let's say there is a little boy named Johnny and a little girl called Mary. Different people see life differently.


Err, let's say there are, uhm, roughly ten different ways that people see the world and lived their lives. So, the way they see those chocolate bars and ice-cream could be explained this way...

(1) Existentialism
Is when Johnny and Mary had a fight with their best friend Neros. Both Johnny and Mary are angry with Neros because he called them "monkeys". Neros is also angry with Johnny and Mary because they called him names like "fiddler", whatever that is. But Johnny and Mary hoped that Neros will still come to their home to play and spend their time eating chocolates and ice-cream together. Yes, spending time eating chocolates and ice-cream would make all of them happy. And sometimes they would pray to God to ask for this too.

(2) Absurdism
Is when Johnny want to sit on a table besides Mary, eat chocolates and ice-cream with her, and gaze into Mary's big round eyes someday. Johnny does not know why he wants to eat chocolates and ice-cream with Mary. But Mary is a rich girl while Johnny is just a poor boy. Johnny knows that Mary will never eat chocolates and ice-cream with him. He also knew that he will not have the good fortune to gaze into Mary's beautiful eyes. But Johnny is not sad. Johnny does not asked for any help from God or anyone else so that he will get his wish. Just the thoughts of eating chocolates and ice-cream with Mary, and gazing into Mary's eyes are enough to make Johnny happy.

(3) Nihilism
Is when Johnny or Mary feels that there is no joy in eating that chocolate or ice-cream. They also feel there is no joy in riding a bicycle, no joy in seeing mommy's smile, no joy in anything in life. How can they feel no joy in anything? Well, i don't know how to answer that question actually.

(4) Secular Humanism (or Humanism)
Is when Johnny or Mary understand that those yummy chocolate and ice-cream are made by humans just like them using their imagination and brains. They're not made by little angels or Santa Claus. Also, those yummy food are put there by mommy and daddy. They are not put there by little angels or, err Santa Claus!

(5) Objectivism
Is when Johnny see those chocolates and ice-cream, touch the smooth angel-shaped chocolates and then feel the sweet taste of them melting inside his mouth. All these makes him feel happy. And if Johnny should feel not happy to share those chocolates and ice-cream with Mary, then he should not share with her.

(6) Positivism
Is when Mary knows that if all chocolates and ice-cream are sweet and yummy when put into the mouth, then the angel-shaped chocolate and rainbow-coloured ice-cream that mommy bought must also be sweet and yummy too when put into the mouth. But don't forget that not all chocolates and ice-cream are sweet and yummy. Some are bitter or sour or salty. But they could still be yummy.

(7) Epicureanism
Is when Johnny and Mary are so happy to see those chocolates and ice-cream. They should enjoy them as food is the only thing that is important in life. Of course, later on there will be other things besides food, mostly things that can be seen, hear, smell, taste or touch. But you will have to wait until you are 18 or older to learn about them.

(8) Determinism
Is when the chocolate and ice-cream are already put in there for Johnny and Mary to eat after their friend Albert had visited them. Johnny and Mary will not have chocolates and ice-cream if Albert had not visited them. But don't forget this- whether Johnny and Mary will eat those chocolates and ice-cream are still up to them to decide ya.

(9) Utilitarianism
Is when Johnny and Mary will feel happy when they eat those chocolate and ice-cream. But then they will think that maybe sharing the chocolate and ice-cream with other people will make many people or all people happy. But sometimes they may forget that other people may not want to eat those chocolate and ice-cream.

(10) Solipsism
Is when Johnny will say eating the chocolate and ice-cream makes him think of riding a bicycle. While Mary will say eating chocolate and ice-cream makes her think of mommy's beautiful smile. And Johnny will shout at Mary she is an idiot, and Mary will shout back at Johnny he is a moron.

Well, that about sums up some of modern life's philosophy, whatever that is. i hope that it is clear for you.

But remember. When you grow up, you don't have to live according to any of the way that i had explained. They are only here to help us understand a little better the question of life.

You just have to find your own way and live your own life as you wish it to be lived. But try not to subscribe too much to No.7 and err, No.3 especially, okay.

~ dedicated to my two nieces, Chloe and Xuan ~
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A little revision to the post inspired by a comment from reader Paula.

Existentialism is when Johnny, Mary and their best friend Neros sit down together for chocolate and ice-cream. Johnny is a poor boy living with his father. Johnny sometimes wonder where does chocolate and ice-cream comes from. Although Mary is a rich girl, her parents don't spend much time with her. Mary will wonder if there could be other things which will make herself happy, besides eating chocolate and ice-cream. Neros is a clever boy and his parents loved him very much. Neros wonder if God made chocolate and ice-cream to make all people happy. Then they all start to wonder if God is a man or a woman. And all of them feel happy eating, and wondering...

Absurdism is when Johnny sees Mary eating chocolate with ice-cream in school. Johnny wanted so much to have chocolate and ice-cream. Johnny's poor father could not afford to buy them for him. Mary will often laugh at Johnny and say to Johnny her chocolate and ice-cream are so yummy. And she will not share any of her ice-cream and chocolate with Johnny. But Johnny never hope that his father would buy Johnny chocolate and ice-cream. Johnny also does not hope that Mary will share them with him. Although Johnny sometimes wish that Mary would become his friend one day, Johnny also think this will not be possible. Ahh, Johnny is having milk and cookies today and he feels happy.