The Quiltmaker's Gift,
by Jeff Brumbeau and Gail de Marcken is a story of generosity. It
raises the philosophical question of what it is to be generous, whether
that involves the giving of material wealth alone, or simply of giving
another being happiness, comfort, or peace. It also raises the question
of whether or not material wealth can provide happiness. In doing
so the question "what is happiness?" is raised. Is happiness
simply an inner state as believed by traditionalists, or is it an
outer
behavior as believed by the behaviorists?
It is with these three philosophical themes presented
in this book that children can explore their own experience in relationship
to the story and also explore the philosophical issues behind these
complex questions. Children can identify within themselves the King
who adores receiving presents, the Quilt Maker who spends each moment
of her life giving, and the happiness that is present or lacking
on both ends of the spectrum.
What may be gained through reflection on generosity? The fruits of the philosophical conversation inspired
by The Quiltmaker's Gift stray
a bit from Matthew Lipman's emphasis on logical thought and critical
thinking. While the children engaged in this conversation may use
logic or reason to support their understanding of the issues raised
(mentioned above), the focus of this philosophical inquiry is to
explore one's own moral assumptions. While it is generally agreed
upon that giving is good, the questions accompanying the story ask
the children to examine the validity of this supposed truth. The
questions also serve to present the tension between one's personal
happiness and that of others, and whether or not this tension can
be reconciled. The story also raises an interesting question regarding
whether or not it is possible to teach certain moral lessons to others.
The Quilt Maker believes that the King will be happiest when he has
giving everything away and is poor, but it takes the King a while
to learn this lesson, and even when he has done what she has asked,
he does not consider himself to be a poor man.
Why is it important to address these issues? It is through an exploration of our concepts of generosity
and contemplation of its role in our lives that we are giving the
opportunity to relate to another as we would ourselves. The following
example is of my own experience of the importance of contemplating
generosity; however I feel that it applies to most people. Most of
my time is spent consumed with my own experience and understanding
of the world. The information that I receive and the places from
which I can respond to that information are aspects of my experience
of self which, due to circumstances physical, emotional, and mental
are coming in at a louder frequency that those experiences of others.
We might assume that most individuals are afflicted by this self-centered
vision which serves to isolate us from one another. By reflecting
on generosity and the feelings that it produces both in the giver
and receiver of the act, one may begin to break down the barrier
between self and other.
Continue
to question set for this story
