Editor's Note: Oscar Brenifier's "Philozenfants" series, published by Jieli Publishing House, has made it to BookDao's book list many times. On April 23rd, which also happened to be the 28th World Book and Copyright Day, BookDao invited Oscar to their live broadcast platform, BookDao Learning, to share his experience in practicing philosophy and to give advice on fostering children's development of thinking techniques to all members of the Good Book Recommendation sales program. This program was initiated by BookDao to serve both publishers and readers.

Oscar Brenifier is a co-founder of the Institute for Philosophical Practice in Paris and holds a Doctorate in Philosophy. He has been promoting philosophical practice worldwide for many years and has published approximately 50 books in this field for both children and adults. His areas of specialty include philosophical consulting, philosophy for children, philosophical pedagogy, and business philosophy.

At the end of this article, you can find the recorded video of the interview.

BookDao: Thank you for joining us for Bookdao's International Children's Book Author Sharing Session. We are currently live on Bookdao's Learning App. China has a rich philosophical tradition and is home to many influential philosophers, such as Confucius and Laozi. We have a passionate community of philosophy enthusiasts, particularly among the members of our book club, who are eager to hear more about your "Philozenfants" series. Before we delve into your work, could you please introduce yourself and the areas you specialize in?

Oscar Brenifier: Hello, everyone. As a philosophy practitioner, I am trained in philosophy, but I do not teach it as an academic subject in universities. Instead, I believe in using philosophy in our daily lives. I believe philosophy is not solely for specialists, but for everyone. It is useful, healthy, and even necessary. Historical figures such as the Greek philosopher Socrates and the Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi embody this approach to philosophy, as they both engaged with people and challenged them to think.

Zhuangzi, in particular, wrote many dialogues between animals, as well as with his friend and fellow philosopher, Huizi. While some of these dialogues were invented, they were inspired by real conversations. Unfortunately, Zhuangzi's ideas are not widely read or studied in China today, despite his importance in Chinese history. To address this issue, I have published a book in Chinese called "Philosophizing with Zhuangzi" to introduce his ideas to a wider audience.

BookDao: Coming back to today’s subject, the "Philozenfants" series. Can you tell us why you wrote this series?

Oscar Brenifier: I have written numerous philosophy books, primarily for children but also for adults, which have achieved global success. However, the purpose behind my writing was not merely to produce books, but to encourage people, particularly children, to think critically.

BookDao: How do you believe children can practice thinking critically, and how did you begin to facilitate this process?

Oscar Brenifier: As a philosophy practitioner, my primary role is to engage in dialogue with people and teach them how to engage in dialogue. Many years ago, I began working with children when my first daughter started kindergarten. I went to her class and started regularly discussing with the children. And I saw how interesting they were and how we could get children thinking. The teacher was very surprised because they didn't realize they could get children thinking. They teach the children by giving information and telling them what to do and what not to do. But they don't invite children to think. So I started training teachers on how they can make children think.

BookDao: Where do you think the lack of children's critical thinking occurs, besides in schools?

Oscar Brenifier: Then I discovered something terrible in my investigation. I realized that many parents do not engage in dialogue with their children. They speak to them, often about practical matters such as what to eat, brushing their teeth, bedtime routines, schoolwork, and so on. However, they do not engage in genuine dialogue with their children. They do not ask their children what they think or invite them to explore their thoughts more deeply. Instead, they simply tell their children what to think.

This is understandable to some extent, as parents want to provide information and share their experiences with their children, as well as instill values. However, what is missing is a practice of critical thinking. As a result, when children become teenagers, conflicts may arise due to the lack of real dialogue in their upbringing. Without proper training in critical thinking, young adults may have tense relationship with their parents and face difficulties in navigating the world around them.

I believe that thinking is a skill that must be practiced and learned, much like a sport or an art. Unfortunately, not many parents prioritize training their children's thinking skills. They may focus on obedience and academic success, but neglect to develop their children's critical thinking abilities. To address this, I have worked extensively with children and written books to help parents engage in dialogue with their children and encourage critical thinking.

BookDao: What is the root of fostering children to become independent thinkers?

Oscar Brenifier: During my research, I discovered another problem that needs to be addressed in fostering children to become independent thinkers. Parents often do not engage in genuine dialogue with their children because they do not engage in such dialogue with their spouse. Husbands and wives may speak about practical matters such as what to eat or where to go for the weekend, but they do not engage in real dialogue.

Although everyone thinks to some extent, the level of thinking may be superficial. It is like physical exercise – walking every day or moving the body slightly is not the same as doing real physical exercise such as jogging, going to the gym, practicing martial arts, or dancing. Similarly, to exercise the mind, one must learn and practice thinking techniques, such as the art of questioning, which involves asking questions not only about practical matters but also about life's purpose and meaning.

Many people are caught in a routine and do not engage in deeper thinking. They follow a pattern of going to school, getting a job, getting married, having children, and working hard until retirement, without considering the purpose of their life. They may pursue little pleasures such as making money, achieving social success, or eating, but these are shallow and do not bring real satisfaction or joy.

Through my philosophical consultations with people, I have found that many individuals struggle with anxiety, confusion, and a lack of satisfaction in life because they do not practice thinking. Therefore, to foster children to become independent thinkers, it is crucial to encourage and practice deeper thinking in all aspects of life.

BookDao: People often perceive philosophy as being too deep, even for adults. This raises a question for many parents: Can young children understand philosophical subjects? If so, at what age do you think it is suitable for them to read the "Philozenfants" series?

Oscar Brenifier: There is no age limit for learning and practicing critical thinking, much like there is no age limit for physical exercise or language acquisition. It is possible to engage children in thinking and philosophical concepts by adapting to their level of understanding. For example, parents can play little thinking games with their children to stimulate their thinking process.

Unfortunately, many parents today choose to give screens to their children instead of engaging in dialogue and critical thinking activities, which can lead to delayed language development and psychological problems. Therefore, we offer classes to parents on how to talk with their children, particularly in China, where we have a lot of courses available for those interested in learning thinking practices.

In conclusion, there is no specific age at which children can start learning philosophical concepts and critical thinking skills. The "Philozenfants" series is suitable for children of various ages, and parents can adapt the discussions to their children's level of understanding.

If people are interested in learning thinking practice for them or their children, they can get in touch with us (pratiques-philosophiques.fr). But don't forget thinking is a practice and one has to learn, just like martial arts. Thank you very much.