Keeping Wonder Alive

Recently, I watched an anime series that I thoroughly enjoyed, not only because of its story and narrative, but because it compelled me to think about what it means to wonder. Not the passive state of being entertained, but the active process of thinking that lies at the very core of educational activity –– that impulse which follows our curiosity into questioning and defying the consensus or status quo. 

The anime is based on the manga work of the artist Uoto, titled Orb: On the Movements of the Earth (チ。―地球の運動について―). The story follows generations of thinkers who pursue knowledge at the risk of their lives. Facing not only actual danger but also desperation over their own limitations, they launch themselves desperately into betting for an invisible thread that will connect their legacy to someone who might continue the research. 

I want to share how the series ends (without ruining major plot points). It ends not with a grandiose statement, not even a word, but a young man gazing up with a speech bubble over him with a single question mark “?”. Ancient Greeks would have used the word thaumazein to speak of this perfect depiction of wonder. To marvel, to be astonished. For those into etymology, you’ll find this root directly in words like “thaumaturgy” (which is a fancy word for magic) and shared linguistic roots in others like “theory” or even “theater”, which are tied to the act of gazing in awe.

Thaumazein, or wonder, is the spark that ignited western philosophy and is still the driving motor of scientific inquiry. It is also the natural, very human disposition, to be amazed about the world and wanting to learn more about it. Perhaps our task as educators is not to provide answers, but to keep that question mark alive. After all, the world changes not because we know everything, but because we never stop wondering.

Roberto Serizawa, Ginkgo Guide