The Baltzan Prize for Humanities and Natural Sciences

Emmanuel Levinas (1906-1995): A Baltzan Prize Winner

In the year, 1989, Emmanuel Levinas was awarded the coveted Baltzan Prize, by the International Balzan Prize Foundation.

This remarkable philosopher was born in Kovno, in the Russian Empire (now Kaunas, Lithuania), on December 30, 1906. His original name was Emanuelis Levinas. He grew up in Lithuania, where he received a Jewish education. After World War II, Levinas studied the Talmud under Monsieur Chouchani. He is regarded as a French philosopher and a commentator on the Talmud.

Levinas entered Strasbourg University in the year 1924 and became friends with Maurice Blanchot, a French philosopher. From there he attended Freiburg University, in 1928 and under the tutelage of Edmund Husserl, studied phenomenology. Here, he also met Martin Heidegger. (2)

Levinas took out his French citizenship in the year 1930. In 1940, he was forced to join the military and during the German invasion of France that same year, his unit was taken into captivity. He became a prisoner of war, assigned to barracks for Jewish prisoners, in Hannover, Germany. His wife and daughter spent the war at a monastery; his mother-in-law was deported and his father and brothers were murdered in Lithuania, by the Nazi SS. (3)

As a prisoner of war, Levinas was not allowed to practice his Jewish religion, but with the assistance of Maurice Blanchot, he managed to stay in contact with his immediate family. He was forced to submit to menial tasks, like chopping wood. Other prisoners became aware that he was making notes, which later became "Existence and Existents", a book published in 1947. He also wrote a series of lectures published as "Time and the Other", in 1948. (4)

In the 1950's, Levinas emerged as a leading French thinker, in his work on "ethics of the Other", (5) and "ethics as first philosophy". (6)

To Levinas, "the Other is not knowable in terms of subjectivity". Philosophy, he regarded as "the wisdom of love", not "the love of wisdom", as the traditional philosophy of the Greeks suggested. (7)

Levinas experienced an epiphany, or a "face-to-face" encounter with the Other. This was probably the reason for his passionate pursuit of ethics, as first philosophy and his stand for a person's ethical duty to the other, as a fellow human being. (8)

Levinas obtained his doctorate and taught at a Jewish High School in Paris, called the Ecole Normale Israelite Orientale and became the director. He taught at the University of Poitiers in 1961, the University of Paris in 1967 and at the Sorbonne in 1973. He retired in 1979. He was also a professor at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. (9)

Levinas was a prolific writer with a number of other major works including "Totality and Infinity" and "Otherwise Than Being and Beyond Essence". Emmanuel Levinas passed away on December 25, 1995, six years after receiving the Baltzan Prize. (10)

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmanuel_L%C3%A9vinas

(2) Ibid.

(3) Ibid.

(4) Ibid.

(5) Ibid.

(6) Ibid.

(7) Ibid.

(8) Ibid.

(9) Ibid.

(10) Ibid.

Why Children Should Study History

Stepping stones from the past

Children ask their parents, teachers or others this question, because history contains a lot of information, that they feel is not important in their lives. If you were to ask a child to write about the major, historical events that have occurred during his or her lifetime, he or she may be able describe a few things that have happened. If you asked the same child to tell you about his or her family history, there might be historical information that you can obtain, but it will be relatively limited.

If you ask a child about the history of his or her community, he or she may know historical facts that are relatively current and pertinent, but not many related to the past. His or her recall of historical events, on the level of the country or the world, will be limited, depending upon the child's age and academic level.

There are children who love history and retain more historical information than others. Some children show absolutely no interest in studying history, on any level. Recalling historical events may be easy for some, but it can be difficult for others.

Imagine how chaotic the world would be, if no one had ever studied history as a child or had any idea of what happened, in the past! What if there was no documented or recorded history?

There are times when all of the prior history concerning a specific place or location, is lost for one reason or another, along with all of the treasures that are significant, from an historical perspective. What happens to history in a situation like this? For instance, natural disasters occur, all the time. Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and fires, take their toll, in terms of the loss of historical documents and records. When this happens, it is important for children to know their own personal and family history and the history of their own communities, countries or the world in general. The same is true in times of war.

Children can learn and remember historical facts, as can adults, but it is much easier to learn history, a bit at a time, as a child. It is important to study history as a child, rather than waiting until one becomes an adult.

History begins to take on more significance, when a person becomes an adult and wants to find out about major events that have occurred, in his or her own lifetime. That is when having studied history as a child, seems to be appreciated.

Oral tradition is one way that history has been passed on to others, since the beginning of time. It is one of the primary modes of expression used today. Songs and poetry record history, to some extent. In studying songs and poetry, children learn history, as it pertains to their own worlds.

Children relate better to those around them when they study history, because they begin to understand their own lives, as well as the lives of others, including their parents, grandparents and prior generations. They learn to appreciate their own cultural values and traditions, as well as those of other cultures.

Studying history is like studying literature, in the sense that it expands a child's literary horizon. A child's world grows larger and larger, as he or she studies history. Children learn valuable lessons from the past.

Spending time studying history is never time wasted, as it invites a child to explore the world, even if only through his or her expanded, literary knowledge. In some ways, it satisfies his or her innate curiosity.

Studying history helps a child expand his or her vocabulary and improve communication, on every level.

Change is an important aspect of a child's life. In studying history, children learn how to cope with change and non-permanency.

Much of what we know has been built upon the stepping stones of the past and there is more that we might know now, if records or documents of the past had been preserved some way, even through the memory of a child.

These are just a few of the many reasons why children should study history, even when they don't always see any reason to do so. Encourage your children to study history and you will be glad that you did.

Why Man Should Study History

Responsible adults study history

Why should man study history? Most of mankind may not think about that question, to any great extent. Many people around the globe, have never studied history and may never study it seriously, on an academic level.

Here are some reasons why man should study history:

Man can learn many valuable lessons from past history and apply what he has learned to the present and the future.

Man can increase his awareness of important changes always happening in the world.

Man can become increasingly in touch with his own reality, role and responsibility, as a human being.

Man can expand his future horizon and realize his full potential.

Man can find significance and meaning in his life and in the lives of others, by studying history.

Man can understand his place in the world and universe.

Many people feel that studying history is something that children need to do, when they are in school. As a result, as adults, their knowledge of history is lacking. What happens if a man does not continue to study history after childhood? An important part of his life would be missing.

Look at history, for just a moment.

History is something that is in the making, every day of a man's life. Either man is in touch with the reality of the changing world or he is not. Knowingly or unknowingly, he is recording history in his mind, as he reads newspapers, listens to the radio and watches television. That is only one way that man can study current history.

It is not just a matter of being informed and staying informed about day to day events, as they happen. It is important for everyone to know what has happened in the past, as well as what is happening, in the present. There are serious implications for the future.

We under-estimate our mental capacity to retain what we see or hear. Seldom do we stop to think that history-in-the-making, is an important part of what we are seeing or hearing. We would probably not refer to it as history, unless we thought about it seriously.

Recorded or documented history is man's understanding and interpretation of what has happened in the world or is currently happening. Unless a man studies history, as it is recorded or documented, it is not possible to know whether it is accurate.

Mankind must always place himself in a position to ask the following questions. Is what is recorded or documented in history, true? Is it biased, in some way? Has the truth been distorted, over time? What are the future implications?

Perceptions of history can vary and while one man's perception might tell one story, another man's perception might reveal something different. Glimpses into different records or documents, will show how different understandings of historical events have affected or altered the course of history, in some way.

Not every man wants to go back to school to study history. There is a small minority of people who choose to focus mainly on history or are devoted to teaching history to others. Some want absolutely nothing to do with history and prefer other pursuits.

Studying and what man studies is a matter of personal choice. Responsible adults will always choose a role of responsibility in the world and will study history.

George Bush's Presidency: Time Has Run Out for a Positive Legacy

Comments on the presidency of George Bush

George Bush would probably be stunned to hear anyone state time has run out, with respect to him leaving his office as President, with a positive legacy. He might get a chuckle out of that!

First of all, time never runs out. His presidency is coming to a close, in the near future, because of a majority electoral decision by the American people. His positive legacy has been established and once established, legacies like his do not disappear.

From a purely Canadian perspective, George Bush is to be commended for his remarkable ability to maintain his presidential status and the stability of the United States, throughout his lengthy term in office.

He has had to face numerous crises and many difficult situations, during that time. Through each one of them, he has maintained an optimistic, positive and firm stand, upholding the American people and their democratic way of life.

Globally, the United States is still a stable country, in spite of any arguments suggesting the opposite. Many countries of the world, including Canada, recognize the importance of that reality.

In retrospect, anyone can look back at any decisions made by the president and make the claim that the exact opposite decision would have been better and more effective. In reality, had the opposite decision been made, it could have been perceived, in the same light. Weighing one side of any argument against the other, in the light of all possible decisions, is never an easy task.

As President of the United States, George Bush has had to deal with serious defense issues, multiple natural disasters, growing environmental concerns and major financial woes. These are almost too numerous to mention.

Maintaining presidential control, during even one crisis in a country is not an easy scenario. The country has survived, in spite of all of the ongoing concerns. The United States will continue to thrive in the future.

Kudos to President George Bush, as he has maintained his presidency through all of this! His integrity is to be commended.

There are still serious, political and economic issues to be resolved in the future. New decisions will have to be made, as there are continual global changes taking place. The groundwork for many of the pending transitions has already been laid.

In conclusion, it must be suggested that time has not run out with respect to him leaving his office as President, with a positive legacy. It is time for the people of the United States to openly acknowledge the reality that the United States has been blessed to have George Bush as President.