"The first and simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind, is curiosity"

Edmund Burke observes that curiosity emerges as the most basic emotional impulse in the human mind. Curiosity, for Burke, stands at the root of human psychology, not because it is elaborate or learned, but because it arises naturally, forming the initial emotional reaction to the world. This statement suggests that before humans can experience complex emotions such as love, fear, or joy, they first encounter an essential spark that draws their attention to something unknown or unfamiliar.

Curiosity manifests as an eagerness to explore, investigate, and understand. Its simplicity lies in its universality and immediacy. Infants, for example, display curiosity before they develop the ability to articulate feelings or thoughts; their instinct is to reach out, look, touch, and listen to the world around them. This spontaneous seeking of knowledge or experience underscores curiosity as the foundation of all learning. Burke’s wording attributes a certain innocence to curiosity, it is untainted by bias or judgment, coming into play prior to rational analysis or emotional depth.

More than just a fleeting interest, curiosity fuels the drive for growth and discovery throughout life. Civilization’s knowledge, inventions, and philosophies owe much to human curiosity, which propels exploration in science, art, and relationship. Because it is the “first” emotion, curiosity also implicates itself in all emotions that follow. The ability to question and to wonder makes all subsequent feelings richer and more complex. It demonstrates that the act of perceiving any object or phenomenon is preceded by a natural urge to know, which gradually shapes intellectual and emotional maturity.

Burke’s insight allows for the recognition of curiosity as an essential part of what it means to be human. It unites people across cultures and eras, pointing to a common drive that precedes not only knowledge, but also the development of values, beliefs, and aspirations.