FREE THINKING:
EXPLORE THE REALMS OF KNOWLEDGE

Children’s fictional characters often serve as playful vessels for surprisingly deep philosophical reflection. Beneath their playful and whimsical appearance is a deep and intricate layer of ethical, philosophical, and existential concepts that encourage reflection in people of all ages.

Take WALL·E, the lonely robot from Pixar’s 2008 film. In a post-human Earth, he compacts waste and treasures fragments of human culture, all while longing for connection. His quiet persistence mirrors Albert Camus’ idea of absurdism: “The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart.” WALL·E’s devotion to a seemingly meaningless task speaks to the power of purpose even in desolation.

In Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes, the tiger Hobbes exists only in Calvin’s eyes, raising epistemological questions about reality and imaginationTheir banter touches on cosmic humility and the absurd. Calvin remarks, “The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.” Calvin’s philosophical quips bring an existential flavour to childhood rebellion.

A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh introduces Taoist principles through a honey-loving bear who lives by instinct and simplicity. Pooh’s musings, such as “Sometimes, the smallest things take up the most room in your heart,” reflect the Taoist notion of wu wei—effortless action aligned with the flow of nature. He shows that wisdom can be gentle, and joy doesn’t need to be earned through striving.

In Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, the nonsensical journey through Wonderland serves as a surreal deconstruction of reality. Time loses meaning, language twists, and identity shifts. The Cheshire Cat’s grin, surviving its body, hints at Derrida’s play with absence and presence. Alice herself asks, “Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle,” which perfectly captures the existential search for self amid chaos.
E.B. White’s Stuart Little explores courage and identity through a mouse born into a human family. Navigating a world not built for him, Stuart’s quiet determination showcases a kind of stoicism, choosing meaning and purpose despite physical limitations or societal expectations. His journey isn’t about conquest but quiet perseverance.

Though these stories appear light-hearted, they harbour philosophical questions that resonate far beyond the nursery. Their characters are whimsical guides through moral dilemmas and existential puzzles, proving that even a stuffed tiger or a honey-addicted bear can be unexpected tutors in the art of thinking deeply.