“The thinkers and the zombie army”, because philosophy is needed even for the little ones

There are still many doubts that haunt humanity. But don't worry, to solve every problem the "thinkers" have arrived, a bizarre team of brainiacs that includes a talking dog named Socrates, the little clones of Freud and Marie Curie, the super computer Pythagoras and finally the leader of the group, pro pro pro pro... nephew of Joan of Arc. This hilarious and bumbling gang in the first mission must face a real riddle that has fascinated the great philosophers for centuries: they must find out if memories define us. How to do? It is enough to create a zombie and conduct experiments on him: thus Bach is "born". But you know, you have to be careful when reviving a corpse in a graveyard, because there's always the risk that a whole army of undead will wake up ready to devour you!

Enlivened by Francesca Carabelli's illustrations, "The thinkers and the zombie army" (Mimebù, 2023, pp. 152, also e-book) by Marco Dazzani is a book for readers aged 8 and up that combines fun, scientific curiosities and above all, philosophy.

We ask Marco Dazzani: where does the idea of writing a “philosophical” book for the little ones come from?

«I think that few people (especially among adults) know what philosophy really is. Yet, the word itself says it: Philosophy means Love for knowledge. So not philosophy is finding answers but the act of asking questions, of snooping, of questioning. And who practices these things more than children? We are all born philosophers but growing up most stop deluding themselves that they know. The little ones are therefore the best audience for a philosophical book. The idea for this book was born when I realized that most philosophical books for children are actually books on the history of philosophy, telling myths or anecdotes about a philosopher or trying to illustrate someone else's thinking. A true philosophical book must not give answers, it must leave questions. That's what my book is trying to do."

Was it difficult to write it, to find the right words for the younger ones?

«Today there is a lot of talk about words that are suitable or not suitable for young people. As if by opening the front door we find a world for young people and a world for adults. But there is only one world for everyone and the words should all be there for everyone too. It is the reader who interprets them. If I write 'Sun' an adult thinks of heat, drought, reduced agricultural production; a child thinks of the beach, games in the garden, laughter. It's never hard to find the words for younger people when we treat them with the respect they deserve."

What can philosophy teach the little ones?

"Nothing, that's exactly the point. Today we always want to teach by imposing dogmas that we consider correct and perfect. But children are our future precisely because they have the ability to think outside the line we want to draw. Philosophy must do this: train minds to reflect, to doubt, to never accept something without asking its own questions. Philosophy, the real one, does not teach directly but teaches to be able to learn by oneself».

Can philosophy really be fun?

«Scrutinizing the stars with binoculars wondering what lies beyond is philosophy. Wondering why your heart is pounding after kissing a girl is philosophy. Trying to discover mysteries, investigating, thinking, all this is philosophy. Philosophy itself is fun, it's the way they often want to tell it that makes it boring or it's simply making the history of philosophy and not philosophy. If it's not fun, it's not philosophy."