I would imagine that John wrote about Our Capacity for Wonder for a multitude of reasons. However, I think that the most substantial reasoning is a personal interest in the history of human discovery. John, as presented throughout The Anthropocene reviewed, is a very introspective person. He is knowledgeable, and clearly does a lot of thinking. In doing so, he can see how our ability to wonder, and dream is one of humanity’s greatest tools. All our discovery throughout our entire existence has been motivated by our capacity for wonder. John, being a quite philosophical man, as well as a student of history and literature, certainly has an appreciation for this notion.
Green’s picking of this topic helps with an understanding of what it means to live a life of significance. Wonder is a driving force in the actions one must take to live significantly. Doing what others have not done, or at least have not publicly done, is vital to living an impactful and significant life. The most significant lives which we have seen are of people who did the unimaginable, who achieved the unachievable. In searching for what it takes to live a life of significance, we should allow our capacity for wonder to flourish.
My thoughts on this topic are highly positive. I enjoyed this chapter a lot as it stood out to me as a highly introspective and well written chapter. This chapter was filled with complex and insightful sentences that force you to question your preconceived notions of the ideas presented. But even past the exquisite writing, our capacity for wonder is an idea that resonates closely with me. I am constantly lost in thought about dreams and wonders. The ideas presented in this chapter were not only thought provoking, but they were also inspiring. I rate Our Capacity for Wonder 5 out of 5 stars.