Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids

"Philosopher and law professor Scott Hershovitz explains that philosophy affects “every aspect of our lives – the sacred, the profane, and even the mundane.” Driven by openness and compassion, Hershovitz’s inquiry at once acknowledges and firmly refutes Thomas Hobbes’ view of human existence without gorvernment as “nasty, brutish, and short.” By recounting funny conversations with his two sons during bath time, before bed and on the way to and from school, Hershovitz sets out to prove that philosophy, like inquisitive, rowdy children, can offer illuminating insights. The author’s fresh approach also reminds parents to embrace our children’s “strangeness” for as long as we can and in the process find our way back to the questioning child-philosopher within us."