The philosophy, “It’s like sport, the one who doesn’t train, he doesn’t succeed”, warns Sunday June 12 on franceinfo Francis Métivier, professor of philosophy at the Duplessis-Mornay high school in Saumur and at the University of Tours (Indre-et-Loire). Many graduates are preparing for the philosophy test scheduled for next Wednesday. The author of Pascal at the beach: sincerity in a deckchairpublished by Dunod editions, distills some practical advice for passing an important and sometimes dreaded test.
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franceinfo: What advice would you give to a bachelor who is revising his philosophy baccalaureate?
Francis Metivier: There are two things to do: review the knowledge and above all, practice the essay or the explanation of text. Acquiring knowledge is not something that comes naturally. And then practice. It’s like sport, whoever doesn’t train, doesn’t succeed. You have to keep training. Philosophy is not natural.
Is there a test that corresponds more to certain profiles between the dissertation and the text commentary?
You have to read the three subjects well, take a little time, especially the text. Above all, we must not decide in advance whether we are going to take an essay or the text. It really depends on the content, but also on the way the subjects present themselves. You have to take the time to read them and choose knowingly, without preconceptions before the day.
How should we revise the 17 philosophical concepts a few days before the test?
In terms of knowledge, it is necessary to review the notions that can be found in subjects, even if they are not mentioned. Consciousness, freedom, truth, these are concepts that can be used, even if the subject does not present them explicitly. And then in all classes, we are supposed to study a work. This work also needs to be reviewed because it covers several program concepts. This is a reference that could possibly be useful.
“Review the main concepts and the author who has been seen in a privileged way during the year.”
Francis Métivier, professor of philosophyat franceinfo
Is it possible to anticipate some topics that may emerge due to the current context?
I do not think so. Questions of philosophy are not current affairs, even if, to deal with them, we can refer to current events. But I don’t think that current events determine the choice of subjects. We were able to have this impression for the humanities, literature and philosophy specialty test because there was a subject which was: what is it to be at war? As humanity is still at war, this is not particularly topical. It is not forbidden to refer to the news, but on the other hand, it is not the news that guides.
Many graduates will finish with philosophy in its school form. Is it a shame to stop there?
Those who have fully understood what philosophy is will not stop philosophizing. They were able to acquire a way of thinking that can be used for life in general. Moreover, there are students who will continue to do philosophy in higher education, in all the preparatory classes. We do not stop philosophizing, if we want to philosophize, if we feel the need. What is unfortunate is that we do not begin philosophy a little earlier. Indeed, it falls a little abruptly at the start of the final year, in the context of an exam. So it still has an issue. Philosophy should be started a little earlier, but without being evaluated, to give a taste for personal thought.