THE PROBLEM WITH THE CHILDREN’S EMPIRICAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE BOOK SERIES “PATILANSKO TSARSTVO” BY RAN BOSILEK AND THE NOVEL “EMIL OF LÖNEBERGA” BY ASTRID LINDGREN

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explore the problem of empiricism as an educational method for children, focusing on its representation in children’s literature in two different historical and geographical contexts. The comparing of these literary works reveals the relevance of this problem, and the existential importance of understanding it. The beginning of the argumentation is based on the famous work on the philosophy of empiricism “An essay concerning human understanding” by John Locke, and the purpose is to define the specific terms of the paper, to create a “frame” that explains why this problem exists. The rest of the article points out certain moments in Lindgren’s novel and in Ran Bosilek’s series which clearly show how children learn through experience, and why empiricism is such a successful parenting method. Both authors, no matter how different from each other they are, advocate the idea of freedom and logical consequences as the most effective way to raise a child.