What does ‘wonder’ mean to you? | Wondermind – Play games and explore the science of your brain

What does ‘wonder’ mean to you?

By Abigail Christenson - November 17, 2011
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The 17th century French philosopher René Descartes believed that wonder is the first, most basic, of people’s passions (today we might call the passions ‘emotions’). Descartes also believed wonder is the base from which all learning starts. Many scientists and mathematicians still believe this. Wonder leads to new knowledge; wonder leads to searches for discoveries.

Wonder might be the start of something new.

What do you think?

What about wonder and art? I wonder, what would happen if artists stopped wondering?

What would happen to you – and to the world – if scientists and artists no longer wondered?

Abigail Christenson
Abigail Christenson is Curator: Young People at Tate Liverpool.

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I Wonder

Discussion Area

If people didn’t wonder the world would go black and your brain would’t work as well as it does now.

Eve - November 18, 2011
Wonder means testing your brain using your imagination and thinking about things you don’t know the answer to.

Eve - November 18, 2011
I believe that wonder is thinking about a subject that you don’t know much about and imagining what the possible answers could be.

Anonymous - November 19, 2011
Wonder is what drives each of us to pursue the unknown. By pursing the unknown we will make our dreams come true; in the adventure of pursuing them, we will also create new dreams.

Anonymous - November 20, 2011
I like the idea that wonder is the start of something new, like in Alice in wonderland everything was completely new to Alice.

Junior - November 20, 2011
If scientists stopped wondering, we would all be in trouble!

S.H. - December 9, 2011
wonder means to help

miss westie lover - December 21, 2011
i mean 2 think

miss westie lover - December 21, 2011
I think wonder is a little bit like magic.

R.S. - January 9, 2012
What is wonder? I’m not sure, but I think fear prevents us from wondering.
Alice was fearless most of the time.

Tate Member - January 20, 2012
Having the joy of looking at everyday things as if they are new and seeing the magic in them

Alix Edwards - January 30, 2012
If people didn’t wonder then so many things wouldn’t be discovered. Very important things.

Saskia Lewis - March 10, 2012
And also invented.

Saskia Lewis - March 10, 2012
Wonder is a passion and is somewhat of an emotion. We use wonder to explore the mysteries of the world and to be intrigued by the treasures and things we find.

Nikki Perreault - March 23, 2012
To wonder is to contemplate about the infinite possibilities your imagination can create.

Maggie Winn - May 7, 2012
Wonder is really akin to starting all over again, somthing to that effect. Starting from the beginning, again.

Friend of Tate - May 31, 2012
Another answer is – wonder, to me, is what we all might start with (artists, musicians, thinkers, writers, scientists) but then might try to move beyond. Innocence.

Friend of Tate - May 31, 2012
it is the force behind all new thoughts

Wife of 'F of T' - May 31, 2012
Wonder is what leads us to the creation of beauty

Part time artist - June 20, 2012
I think wonder brings science and religion together – it’s where the two join

anonymous - July 25, 2012
it is passion and beauty, it is the force through which our minds expand to new things and ideas

weader wabbit - July 26, 2012
it is also why we are writing and what makes us write, without it we would not write the things we have today

weader wabbit - July 26, 2012
If nobody wondered we would never discover, invent or use 100% of our brain. I have never thought I would come across this question although it is important

Helen - August 25, 2012
I agree with above!

Helen's friend - October 7, 2012
I think wonder keeps us alive! Our spirits continue on their journey, as we learn, seek, wonder.

I think - October 18, 2012
Wonder is an attempt to consider anything that surpasses our understanding or imagination!

M. R. - November 2, 2012
It’s in the mind, it’s contemplative – not active, really. It might lead somewhere (wonderland?) but wonder is in the mind.
As with Alice — her wonderland was in her mind/dreams.

Miste R. - November 2, 2012
I agree with the ‘Wife of F of T’ — it is the force behind all new thoughts.

Miste R. - November 2, 2012
I like this discussion, it’s caused me to have an ‘eureka moment’:

wonder is the purpose of life!

Miste R. - November 2, 2012