Determination excursion
This activity is inspired by the Taktikou and Alterlumi dialogues from the philocreation approach of our community partner Brila.
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| Objective: To propel alternative representations of determination by forming its expedition team! |
Duration : 30 to 60 minutes
Material :
- Your imagination
- Sheets of paper and pencils
Instructions :
A great explorer somewhere on Earth dreams of climbing the planet's steepest peaks, to trail in its densest forests and to swim in its deepest waters ... Magical places whose beautiful features are only matched by their dangerous ones!
This explorer is called Determination. It always wants to climb higher, go further and dive deeper, no matter the situation. As it prepares for its next adventure, it realizes that it might be wise to form an expedition team... Who do you think would be the best recruit: Imagination, Fear, Confidence, Doubt or Curiosity?
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Imagine the story. Determination is endowed with an ironclad will! When it sets a goal, nothing can stop it. Before choosing the concept that would be its ideal expedition companion, first imagine a solo adventure of the concept of determination. Picture this great explorer as it crosses Tibet on foot, rides the dunes of the Sahara, or climbs to the summit of Mount Everest. Next, try to illustrate with examples its greatest strength and a problem that it could face.
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Choose the recruit. Who would be the best companion for determination: imagination, fear, confidence, doubt or curiosity? Choose the concept that should accompany determination in its next adventure and offer reasons to explain and justify your choice.
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Continue the story. To test your ideas and illustrate the consequences of your choice, write and illustrate the rest of the story in the form of an adventure tale, reporting the pitfalls and successes of this conceptual duo!
- Join the story. Have you ever heard the expression “where there’s a will, there’s a way”? Do you agree with this statement? Can will power move mountains? Do you think determination can do wonders? Might it be the key to success? Why or why not ?
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Bonus : To continue your creative thinking, ask yourself what might be the purpose of determination. Could the strength of our determination allow us to be better? But wait, does that mean there is always room for improvement? Should we always try to improve ourselves? Why or why not? In the comic strip below, a character wants to improve so much that he builds a "Make-it-all-at-once" contraception to become the best... at everything, all at once! If you were building your own “Make-it-all-at-once” contraception, what would be the functions of this machine and the consequences of using it—achieving all of your goals ... or perhaps total exhaustion? Hmm... maybe it is impossible to improve without exhausting yourself... but is it really that important to improve? Why or why not ? |
This comic strip is reproduced with permission from the philosophy columns of our community partner Les Explorateurs magazine. It was produced in collaboration with our team at the Institute of Philosophy, Citizenship and Youth.
Tricks for tots : To put yourself in the shoes of determination, think back to a time when you really really wanted something! Did you want to... do a perfect somersault, read a book all by yourself or build a treehouse? In your opinion, is it enough to really really want something to succeed... or does it take something else to achieve your goals? Do you need…
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| Tips for teens : In philosophy, the concept of determination does not necessarily mean the will to achieve the goals that you set for yourself. On the contrary, it is often connected to the notion of determinism—or the idea that human action is subject to a set of external causes to which the will is subordinated. Historically, the philosopher Karl Marx has spoken of historical determinism, whereas sociologist Emile Durkheim has introduced the idea of social determinism. According to these thinkers, human behaviour is the result of the historical and social constraints that are exerted on individuals, without them even being aware of it necessarily. Consequently, regardless of their determination of will, a person's action will be influenced by their social condition or constrained by their historical position. Accordingly, for people from marginalized or lesser advantaged communities, it may not be applicable or helpful to think “where there's a will, there's a way." Are there situations in which, no matter the strength of your determination, it would be almost impossible to accomplish your goals? Do some people have to work harder than others to succeed? Conversely, can you work very hard and never even have the opportunity to succeed? Is success a question of will? Why or why not ? |
Share your creative reflections by sending them via email.
Include photos of your projects and notes of your thoughts, as well as your first name and your age!
