Sophie's World Summary

I.Summary Sophie Amundsen lives with her mother in a suburban house. Her father, an oil tanker captain, who is mostly not at home. Her mother works outside the home and comes home late in the afternoon. She also lives withher cat, Sherekan, as well as with her goldfish, a tortoise, and two budgerigars. When she got home from shool, Sophie received two anonymous messages in her mailbox (the first asking, "Who are you?", the second asking, "Where does the world come from?"). Checking the mailbox again, she finds a postcard. It is a birthday card from Hilde’s father, apologizing that he could not be there for her birthday, and also for sending the card through Sophie, because it was "the easiest way." Sophie is completely confused at this point. Where did the letters come from? What were the answers to the questions in the letters? Who is the sender of the letter? Sophie is distracted with the questions she has received in the mail. Sophie returns home to find a large brown envelope in the mailbox. It is addressed to her and labeled, "Course in Philosophy. Handle with care." The letter presents her with the idea that the only thing necessary to be a philosopher is to have a sense of wonder, both about the world and about oneself. The writer states that most people lose this capacity as they grow older.The philosopher compares the universe to a white rabbit pulled out of a top hat by a magician. While we as observers are filled with wonder at the trick, more than anything we wonder, "How did he do that?" We want to know how and why. That is the basis of all