What is the Sense of Wonder ?
This blog might be better titled “Ways to Understand a Sense of Wonder”, but that’s not as direct as the chosen title. However, I have just started to unpack the term “sense of wonder”, and feel that it is probably a good time to share some initial thoughts on the term.
Theory of Knowledge (ToK) Essay #6 May25 asks us whether the sense of wonder is destroyed by acquiring knowledge. My starting point for this term is Rachel Carson’s 1959 book The Sense of Wonder: A celebration of nature for parents and children. Excerpts and reflections on the book are available from Colleen Keating’s poetry pages (linked).
Of course, we don’t have to be limited by Carson’s explanation of the sense of wonder, many other explanations are available, and students can always build their own explanation. However, in this blogpost I will focus on Carson’s exploration of the term, it’s both holistic and sophisticated.
In Rachel Carson’s reflections, “a sense of wonder” emerges as an intrinsic feeling that deepens our connection to the natural world. Carson captures this in her personal anecdotes, especially in her interactions with her nephew, Roger, whom she introduces to the elemental beauty of nature from a young age. She portrays wonder not as something taught but as a sensorial and emotional engagement with the world, an inherent awe that transcends the boundaries of knowledge and rationality.
Carson juxtaposes two modes of understanding the world: the sensorial experience and the rational, organised knowledge-based approach. The sensorial experience, which she champions, is about feeling the world deeply through sight, sound, touch, and smell. Carson argues that children naturally possess this sensory awareness, experiencing the world with a sense of awe and wonder that adults often lose. For her, allowing children to explore nature through this sensory lens, without the need for naming or categorising, is crucial. A simple walk in the woods, the texture of moss, or the sight of waves crashing against the shore can evoke deep emotional responses, which, for Carson, are more valuable than factual knowledge.
On the other hand, Carson acknowledges the importance of organised knowledge but cautions that it should not dominate our interaction with nature. Rationality and categorisation, while useful, can strip the world of its mystery and awe. She suggests that facts are essential, but they should come after one’s emotional and sensory connection to the natural world has been nurtured. In this way, a child’s curiosity is sparked not by learning the name of a bird but by feeling the mystery behind its existence.
Ultimately, Carson’s understanding of a sense of wonder is about maintaining the delicate balance between knowledge and feeling. It is an antidote to the disenchantment of adulthood, a call to preserve our ability to feel awe in the face of nature’s vastness. This sense of wonder, according to Carson, is not just a fleeting emotion but a lifelong resource that provides strength and joy, reminding us of the beauty and mystery of the world we inhabit.
Student Guidance Notes for Essay #6 M25
These notes are:
Student friendly.
contain knowledge claims, evaluation points, examples and implications.
include a proposed structure.
include suggestions for Introduction and Conclusion sections.
5,500 words.
