Philosopher's books encourage children to ponder big ideas
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E-mail chinadaily.com.cn, June 8, 2017
Children are born philosophers. This June, French philosopher Oscar Brenifier brings his best-selling philosophical picture book collection What's the big idea to Chinese children in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuhan and Changsha.
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Oscar Brenifier talks to children in Beijing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] |
The What's the big idea collection, winner of a French national award for best children's book, encourages children to ponder ideas and ask questions about life and the world. Through illuminating dialogue, thinking can be as fun as a child's play.
The collection explores nine fundamental concepts, including happiness, liberty, and society. Each of the nine books contains six major questions on a different theme.
"My books are for the whole family, not just for children. I hope the parents can read those books and ask those questions of themselves," Brenifier said.
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A boy poses for a photo with philosopher and author Oscar Brenifier. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] |
Brenifier got his doctorate degreee in philosophy from the Paris-Sorbonne University. He has several identities: a practical philosopher, a trainer, a consultant and an author. For many years, he has been working on the concept of "philosophical practice" both on a practical and theoretical level.
Brenifier is the author of more than 50 philosophical and pedagogical works. With a readership ranging from teachers to children, he has published the collection The Apprentice-Philosopher and the book Questions of Logic for teenagers, the popular What's the big idea collection for children, as well as books for teachers.
After becoming a professor, he developed the concept of "philosophical practice". He has been involved in several projects to make philosophy more accessible to various audiences including children and adults in France and other countries.
To this end, Brenifier founded the Institute of Practical Philosophy with Isabelle Millon, a philosopher specialized in philosophical practices with children and adolescents. The goal of the institute is to promote philosophy in day-to-day life in the city and school. It organizes philosophical workshops in coffee shops, schools, theaters and even companies.
Brenifier wants to dispel people's misconceptions about philosophy. "Practical philosophy is very different from academic philosophy. It [academic philosophy] is for a specific group of people. But I help everybody to use philosophy every day," he said.
"I dedicate my life to promoting philosophical practice with everybody to show that philosophy is not for elites. It can be used in everybody's life," he said. "That's what I have been trying to do. The PhiloZenfants [What's the big idea] are for the families like these."
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