Philosophers as Characters

It's not difficult to see how philosophical inquiry itself can be beneficial to young thinkers, particularly since they seem to be so good at it on their own. However, as children also have a keen appreciation of personal histories and peculiar human quirks, it's also fun to introduce great thinkers as people too. Here are a few philosophers with interesting characteristics and habits.

• As a child, Rene Descartes drove his teachers crazy with questions. He was the kid with his hand perpetually in the air.
• Pythagoras refused to eat beans, fearing that they weaken his life force. Talk about a picky eater!
• Ayn Rand worked as an extra in Hollywood movies before becoming a novelist and philosopher.
• Immanual Kant was so punctual, his neighbours set their clocks by his morning walk.
• Plato annoyed his friends so much that they sold him into slavery to teach him a lesson. They bought him back a little later.
• Friedrich Nietzsche grew up as the only boy in a house full of women. He was raised by his mother, his sisters, his aunts and his grandmother.