Countdown to Christmas
17 - Wonder
- The sentiment of wonder is often misunderstood. When people hear about wonder, they tend to immediately think of religion, miracles, or other transcendental experiences. But that is just one aspect of wonder. The sense of wonder is much broader, more encompassing, and more democratic (i.e. we are all capable of experiencing).
- In essence, wonder is a motivating sentiment. Because it is this feeling of awe when encountering the beauty of a rainbow for the first time that urges us to explore the physical process behind it. In other words, wonder is the precursor of curiosity. And that’s why Plato famously claimed that all “philosophy begins in wonder.”
- Yet, wonder is not limited to more puzzlement or perplexity; it implies emotions, such as awe, admiration, or amazement. As Adam Smith remarks, wonder is not instrumental; but existential: “Wonder [...] and not any expectation of advantage from its discoveries, is the first principle which prompts mankind to the study of philosophy.” Wonder, therefore, implies a deep appreciation for the world—and is directed towards meaning and the sublime. That’s the essence of the liberal spirit.
Caspar David Friedrich’s “Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog” is one of those art pieces that feels so cliché that it is almost cringe to reference it. Yet, when talking about wonder and awe, there is probably no other way to describe this sentiment than through the landscape paintings of Romanticism.
Friedrich’s Wanderer is contemplating the sublime. He silently stands in complete awe in front of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. This mood and vibe that Friedrich so uniquely captures in this painting serves as an important reminder for progressives: Despite all our scientific and rational advancements in understanding the world, we should never lose our sense of wonder for the marvels of our natural and social realities. No matter how much we pretend to understand on a mechanical level, we still can’t capture the ineffable nature of the sublime with words. This is humbling and empowering at the same time. By recognizing these human limitations, we are all able to become “Wanderers” in this marvelous world of ours.
