SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, March 14 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cabildo de Tenerife, through the Education and Youth area, has presented this Tuesday the X Philosophical Olympiad of Spain, which will take place on April 28 and 29 at the Costa Adeje Tourist Development Center. This event, which is being held for the first time in the Canary Islands, will bring together students from all over Spain in their 3rd and 4th ESO, as well as Baccalaureate, to reflect on globalization, internationalization, justice or immigration, under the motto Borders and global justice.
The Island Councilor for Education and Youth, Concepción Rivero, offered the details of this philosophical tournament together with the Territorial Director of Education for the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife of the Government of the Canary Islands, Federico Delgado; the Councilor for Culture and Education of the Adeje City Council, María Clavijo; and the Vice Dean of Philosophy at the University of La Laguna and member of the Permanent Commission of the Philosophical Olympiad of Spain, Margarita Vázquez.
Concepción Rivero assured that with this test it is possible for young people to “enhance their critical thinking, learn to value and form their own opinions, something that is essential for their personal development.” Rivero explained that the last three editions have been held electronically, for which she assured that for Tenerife “it is an honor to be the venue for this national event on its return to face-to-face format”. In addition, she emphasized that it will be “a great opportunity to value the talent of our young people and will serve to promote the holding of events of this caliber in Tenerife with more regularity”.
The territorial director of Education of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife of the Government of the Canary Islands, Federico Delgado, stressed that the development of the event will be possible thanks to inter-administrative, inter-territorial collaboration, as well as between educational stages, in reference to Secondary Education and the university He remarked that it is the first time that the Philosophical Olympiad of Spain takes place outside the peninsular territory and celebrated that this time it will be face-to-face, after several virtual editions.
In addition, he emphasized that the archipelago is the best space to address the content proposed by this tenth edition, included in its motto ‘Borders and global justice’ due to its nature as an intercontinental platform, and stressed “the relevance of reflection and the promotion of critical spirit of this quote”. Lastly, he referred to the commitment to “train happy people who live in fair cities, as well as the Olympic spirit, which means improvement and not competitiveness”.
For her part, the Adeje City Councilor for Education, María Clavijo, commented that the development of critical thinking in youth is essential. “It always has been and I would say that today it is needed more than ever. In a society where speed and immediacy are the order of the day, it is necessary to have well-armed thinking, to know how to reason, argue and defend values. It is For all these reasons, I am extremely happy that Adeje is the venue chosen on this occasion for the celebration of the tenth Philosophical Olympics in Spain. It is an unbeatable opportunity to transmit to our youth the importance of this critical thinking,” he added.
The Vice Dean of Philosophy at the University of La Laguna and member of the Permanent Commission of the Philosophical Olympiad of Spain, Margarita Vázquez, thanked all the institutions for the support received. “It is the first time that the 17 autonomous communities, Ceuta and Melilla participate in the Olympics, one more reason why we are especially excited,” said Vázquez. On the other hand, regarding the theme of this edition, she explained that “it was chosen by the Canary Islands because it is a theme that” touches us closely “.
The X Philosophical Olympiad of Spain has four modalities. The philosophical dissertation, aimed at high school students, will consist of writing an essay for 90 minutes, around a question raised in relation to the theme of the competition. For their part, in the moral dilemma, students in the 3rd and 4th years of ESO must carry out a written analysis, which must conclude with a reasoned response to the dilemma posed. In the case of photography and video, both 3rd and 4th ESO students as well as high school students may participate. It will consist of reflecting in photographs or in a video a certain philosophical idea linked to the theme chosen in the call.
This Friday, the 17th, the final of the X Philosophical Olympiad of the Canary Islands will take place, which will decide the regional winners who will participate in the national test on behalf of the Islands.
