14 June 2024 12:26 am Views - 229
This compact and insightful book is easily readable; covering ancient and modern philosophers from the East to West as well as the thoughts of religious sages, including thoughtfully interposed illustrations of many
The need of the hour for all involved in teaching and training is to transform themselves first into sages imbued with wisdom.
Be it instructing students in a classroom or explaining an intricate mathematical problem in a lecture hall, a teacher is always called upon to rise above the levels of the laid-out curriculum, in order to mold students – be they young or old - to become exemplary human beings. The same responsibility lies with trainers and coaches involved in the fields of sports and performing arts.
The author of the book Francis D’Almeida
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The book ‘Philosophical insights for teachers and trainers’ comes as a sequel to Francis D’ Almeida’s earlier thesis on the subject, A Complete Vocal Pedagogy
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Indeed, what is relevant is that Francis D’Almeida has attempted to combine his vast teaching and training experience which has reached the minds and hearts of over eighteen thousand students island-wide and abroad. He has put to good use the knowledge he has further gained from his assiduous studies and research to author anew his book on philosophy.
In the answer to the quizzical “why” he strayed into the somewhat abstract realm of philosophy. He explained that such is the dire need of the times, when sadly very many are hell bent on destroying our human race despite being well educated and highly trained.
This compact and insightful book is easily readable; covering ancient and modern philosophers from the East to West as well as the thoughts of religious sages, including thoughtfully interposed illustrations of many. The author, having shown an avid interest in Marxist philosophy as a teenager, thereafter went on to study the vast universe of Western philosophy by reading and digesting Bertrand Russell’s magnum opus, ‘The History of Western Philosophy’.
The book’s attractive cover portrays the Auguste Rodin’s sculpture, ‘The Thinker’ – depicting a pre-historic man in deep thought. Indeed, it is thanks to such human beings that we are where we are, despite being unable to “think things out” to the very end. The back cover depicts Rene Descartes’ succinct observation, “I think, therefore I am” (cogito ergo sum).
It is but one side of the coin to interpret philosophers. Perhaps what is even more important is the application of such insights in one’s personal life – wherein a teacher may strive to change the world through the proper molding of young people who will emerge to lead their own countries and thus all Earth.
Globally, as acts of stealing and cheating, violence and crime spread and ravage - that too from well-educated and much trained professionals - the time is ripe to educate everyone to relentlessly search for “what is right and what is wrong” for humanity.
This book comes as a sequel to Francis D’ Almeida’s earlier thesis on the subject, A Complete Vocal Pedagogy.