I began taking interest in philosophy, in particular in the works of Plato, at age fifteen. I was indeed studying Ancient Greek philosophy in high school. In several countries, no philosophy is offered till reaching higher education. A number of important authors, moreover, have suggested that philosophy cannot be properly done or understood until mature age: first you should explore life and the world, then you may be able to philosophize about it.

Thus, one could ask, is there a more privileged age for doing philosophy? And, even supposing that there is not just one specific age, are there topics or methods more proper to one moment in life than another? Let us consider the two questions in order.

A Privileged Age for Philosophizing?
If there is a privileged age for philosophizing, that seems to be maturity. Perhaps I cannot even speak too much of this matter, since as I am writing this I am in the mid thirties and that is hardly enough experience to be a fully mature human being. On the other hand, what sort of experience can make you a philosopher? Should philosophers be travelers? Should they be sociable? Should philosophers have experienced different forms of living in order to speak more properly of subjects such as meaning, knowledge, truth, reason, desires, and so on?

Needless to say, different philosophers do offer varied replies to the questions just posed. Much depends on what the task of philosophy is taken to be. If philosophers should suggest living styles that are sustainable from an existential point of view, that is wise and conducive to some sort of good life, then it is more likely that people with more experience be more reliable for this task.

However, many people today intend the goal of philosophy differently: to them, philosophizing means to uncover correct patterns of reasoning on a given subject matter, so that anyone facing the subject matter will have a better understanding of the conceptual shortcomings that characterize it. As a tool for conceptual exchange or for greater understanding, philosophy may be pursued by younger and not so young minds probably more on a par; of course, expertise may aid those who are more advanced in the study of philosophy, but there is no need to believe that only those may or should be philosophizing.

Which Philosophies for Which Age?
Another curious question is whether some topics pertain more properly to a certain age than others. Is there a specific moment of our life when it’s best to speculate on death? Should young minds ponder the topic, so that they can make a better use of the time they are given during their life? Or, instead, should elder especially be encouraged to reflect on death? Or, consider the caducity of pleasure: that also seems a topic well-suited to elderly, who have experienced it more fully.

I do not believe that there is one best manner to answer those questions. It is obvious that different societies have adopted differ perspectives on the theme. I will, however, offer some suggestions. (i) The question of which topic may best suit which age can hardly be undertaken regardless of the sort of upbringing of a person. Gender, social class, the sorts of situations that one may have faced: these, among other respects, do indeed shape the extent within which a person can be brought to philosophize. (ii) It is fairly safe to suggest that children do tend to raise philosophical question when still very young (between five and ten years old), and that they do demonstrate an interest for deepening such questions, trying to find some sort of answers. This suggests that philosophy could (and perhaps should) be undertaken also at a younger stage. The study of philosophy at a younger age seems, from such an angle, needed and useful: children will learn how to address complex questions, that may not have an easy or settled answer.