Philosopher's books encourage children to ponder big ideas
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E-mail chinadaily.com.cn, June 8, 2017
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Oscar Brenifier talks to children in Shanghai. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] |
Brenifier's work extends beyond the publication domain. He contributed as an expert in 2007 to the drafting of the UNESCO report on philosophy in the world. In 2006, he was one of the organizers of the International Symposium on New Philosophical Practices at the UNESCO headquarter in Paris. " I try to introduce philosophy into many different areas," he added. "I help companies to evaluate their staff. And I also do individual philosophical counseling."
He is actually one of the most famous representatives of philosophical consultation in France, a division of philosophy based on the exchange between a professional of the discipline and a person having existential questions. A philosophical consultation is designed to help clarify questions asked by an interlocutor, which is very different from psychological therapy because it does not employ any therapeutic approach. The consultant philosopher guides the thinking of the counselee, but never acts as a prescriber of philosophical doctrines.
Brenifier is very fond of the idea of thinking exercise. For him, the brain requires training and exercise just like the body. "The method I use in consultations is very structural," he said. "It's about clarifying the thinking, finding concepts, and looking for alternatives. It is like when you do philosophy dissertations, except it is not about the academic, it is about your life."
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The What's the big idea collection by Oscar Brenifier. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] |
He facetiously describes himself as an obsessive questioner. "As soon as I see someone in front of me, I want to understand how this person functions. I am fascinated by human beings," he said with a smile.
His tour in China includes parents-and-kids meet-ups, workshops, university lectures and book-signings.
"I have been working a lot on tales and how to philosophize with tales or proverbs. So in the future, I may do some books here in China for the whole family about tales and proverbs," he said.
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