Periagoge
Concept
1 min read

The Donkey's Question

A practice of asking seemingly naive questions to reveal hidden assumptions and expose the absurdity embedded in conventional wisdom.

Nas
Why It Matters

Nasreddin Hodja's legendary donkey serves as a mirror for human pretension and unexamined certainty. By asking innocent questions that expose logical contradictions, we learn to see what we've stopped noticing. The examined playful life embraces this Socratic naivety—not from ignorance, but from deliberate wonder. When we ask "Why do we assume this is true?" with genuine curiosity rather than cynicism, we unlock fresh perspectives. This practice dissolves the boundary between learning and entertainment, making wisdom accessible through laughter. The donkey represents our capacity to remain eternally beginner-minded, finding comedy in our own certainties and freedom in admitting what we don't understand.

Helpful guides
Nas
Play & Joy
Peri
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