Press Here
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Summary
Press Here is an unorthodox book that introduces questions about causality and the paradox of fiction.
Press Here by Hervé Tullet starts off with a blank page and a yellow dot in the middle and invites you to “press here and turn the page.” Over the next pages we are invited to tap a dot and turn the page (to discover our taps have generated a tower of dots), to shake the book and turn the page (to discover we’ve made all the dots move about the page), and more.
Read aloud video with Hervé Tullet by KidLit TV
Read aloud video by Book Reading with Sammy
Guidelines for Philosophical Discussion
Press Here touches on two main philosophically interesting issues, namely, causality and the paradox of fiction.
The paradox of fiction
The paradox of fiction refers to people being “moved” (normally emotionally) by fictional characters, events, or situations despite knowing that they are fictional and not real. How can we explain that we feel sad for a character in a book even though we know that they do not really exist? Or that we feel frightened by a monster in a film, despite knowing that no such monster exists? Or, in the case of Press Here, that we reach out and press, or blow, or clap, despite knowing that we are not really making anything happen when we do so?
Philosophers of art have tried to explain this paradox in different ways. Some have suggested that, with fiction (at least with good fiction), we enter a special state whereby we willingly suspend disbelief and–at least momentarily– embrace it as “real.” Others suggest that it’s not entirely accurate to say we are moved by fictional characters or events. When we say we feel sad for a character in a book, what we are really saying is that we feel sorry for people in real life who could be in that situation or in a similar situation. Others suggest that it is another form of “pretending” or make-believe (that is, we don’t “really” feel sad or frightened, we are just pretending).
Press Here is interesting in this way it does move us in a very clear way to take part and engage in the illusion that we are making things happen in the book, even though we know very well we are not. And this does not only happen the first time we read it. It happens again and again every time we look at it.
Causality
Press Here plays with the assumption that our actions are “causing” things to happen; that when we press a dot, we make it duplicate, that when we blow, we get rid of the black, that when we clap, we make the dots grow, etc. In doing so, it raises timeless philosophical questions regarding causality.
The philosophical questions raised by Press Here are quite abstract and may suit slightly older primary school children. Younger children will still enjoy thinking about some of the questions about the paradox of fiction though.
Questions for Philosophical Discussion
The paradox of fiction
- Is Press Here different from other books you have read? In what ways? What makes it different? What do you like about it?
- Who makes things happen in the book?
- Is Press Here like magic?
- Did you laugh while you were reading it? What do you think made you laugh?
- How hard did you blow on the black to get rid of it? How did you feel when you turned the page and saw that a lot of the black was gone?
- If you know that it’s not you making things happen, why do you do it? What makes you continue doing it?
- Is Press Here a book or a game? Why?
- Are all books a kind of game?
Causality
- When you press the yellow button on the first page of Press Here, it turns into two on the second page. By pressing it, do you cause the one yellow button to turn into two?
- When you press a doorbell, it rings. By pressing it, are you causing the doorbell to ring?
- What is the difference between the two cases above? What is it that makes us say that there is a cause-effect relationship between pressing the doorbell and it ringing, whereas there is no cause-effect relationship between pressing the button and it turning into two?
- How can we know when two things are linked through cause and effect? If you pressed a doorbell and you suddenly felt ill, would you think it was an effect of having pressed the doorbell? Why?
- Does experience of seeing two events occurring one after the other again and again confirm that there is a causal link between them? How many times do you think you have to see two events together to conclude there is a causal link between them?
- Can you think of two things that always “go” together but do not have a causal link between them?
Original questions and guidelines for philosophical discussion by Ellen Duthie. Edited June 2020 by The Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics.
Find tips for leading a philosophical discussion on our Resources page.
About the Prindle Institute
As one of the largest collegiate ethics institutes in the country, the Prindle Institute for Ethics’ uniquely robust national outreach mission serves DePauw students, faculty and staff; academics and scholars throughout the United States and in the international community; life-long learners; and the Greencastle community in a variety of ways. In 2019, the Prindle Institute partrnered with Thomas Wartenberg and became the digital home of his Teaching Children Philosophy discussion guides.
Further Resources
Some of the books on this site may contain characterizations or illustrations that are culturally insensitive or inaccurate. We encourage educators to visit the Association for Library Service to Children’s resource guide for talking to children about issues of race and culture in literature. They also have a guide for navigating tough conversations. PBS Kids’ set of resources for talking to young children about race and racism might also be useful for educators.
Philosophy often deals with big questions like the existence of a higher power or death. Find tips for leading a philosophical discussion on our resources page.
