I Know the Moon

by Stephen Axel Anderson

Questions for Philosophical Discussion
by Paula A. Carpentier
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All the animals had a different idea of what the moon is. Each of the animals was convinced that he knew the moon, and they all begin to bicker. The owl broke up the fight and said, "There is but one moon, we shall have but one answer."

  1. When you look at the moon what do you see?
  2. How did you get that idea?
  3. Do you think there is only one right answer to what the moon is?Have you ever been in an argument?
  4. When you had an argument, how did you settle the argument?
  5. Did you change the other person's mind or did that person change your mind?
  6. Can you think of cases in which all of the people in an argument are right, and cases in which there is only one true answer?
  7. When there is only one answer, how do you know which is right?


The animals go to the Man of Science to find out the truth about the moon.

  1. Who would you go to to find out the truth?
  2. How do you think that person knows the truth?
  3. If something is written in a science book, does that make it true?
  4. Can science give us the answers for everything?





The Man of Science believed the moon can only be known through words. He said, "Facts and figures all in orbit! Read the moon then absorb it." The fox however, said "The Man says it's made of letters. I know it's more the spaces in between."

  1. Let's make a list of ways we can communicate without words. For example: a smile.
  2. Have you ever tried to say something, but couldn't think of the words to say it?
  3. Can you always use words to explain things?
  4. Is using words always the strongest way to communicate or can some of the things on our list better express our thoughts or feelings?




The Man of Science said that you must look to words to know the moon. The fox doesn't agree and says that the moon must be chased and felt and seen. All of the animals still feel strongly that their moon is the real one.

  1. Have you ever strongly felt that you know you are right about something, even though everyone tells you that you are wrong?
  2. When you feel that you are right, how do you know you are right?
  3. Are you born knowing these ideas or do you know what you know because someone told you?
  4. How do you think you acquire knowledge?
  5. Have you ever tried to express something, but couldn't think of the words to express it?
  6. Can words explain everything that exists in the world?
  7. Can you learn about everything in the world by reading?
  8. Can we express our feelings or ideas without using words?

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