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万科梅沙书院教师Travis Walker采访实录

2022-02-08来源:万科梅沙书院手机版

潮间漫谈

vol.2

Travis Walker

日夜梅沙，每个来回奔走的身影

都有自己的故事与未来。

在「潮·Tide」杂志社暂作停顿，

有趣的灵魂与我们漫谈

各自坚立于众人与时间的流动中

独特的那一份自我。

关于Walker

固定布局

工具条上设置固定宽高

背景可以设置被包含

可以完美对齐背景图和文字

以及制作自己的模板

提起VMA令人印象深刻的老师，Travis Walker的名字时常被大家挂在嘴边。2016-2019年，Walker老师在梅沙执教AP经济学，并首创了600-Level的哲学课，成为诸多梅沙人的“念念不忘”。随后他暂别VMA，前往北京完成中国哲学硕士课程。本期潮间漫谈，我们邀请了重返梅沙校园的Travis Walker，对谈他与中国哲学、历史和文化的不解之缘。

Walker的学生说

固定布局

工具条上设置固定宽高

背景可以设置被包含

可以完美对齐背景图和文字

以及制作自己的模板

王宇凡：在高中三年，加上大学两年，Walker的课不是最难，最启发，最有挑战的，因为都是入门的内容，但可能是我遇到过在教学上面最下功夫的老师和最有趣的课堂形式。

梁建邦：Walker是我在梅沙见过最有激情的老师之一，也是他的课改变了我的专业的选择。有时候别的课会让我觉得很漫长，但他的课不会。他似乎能让所有人追随着他的思维，哪怕这节课有一个多小时，讲的还是很晦涩的哲学。

杨舒然：我觉得Walker是一个随和但不随意的老师。他上课的时候总是元气满满，很喜欢和我们互动。在这种轻松的氛围里，我感觉很放松很开心，也更愿意参与课堂讨论。

Walker和他的学生们

Travis Walker采访

Q&A

Q Many VMAers are interested in your graduate life in Beijing. Why did you choose to leave VMA to study in Beijing and why did you select Chinese Philosophy as your major?

很多VMAer都很好奇您的北京留学生活，您为什么选择离开VMA到北京读研？为什么选择中国哲学作为攻读专业呢？

Travis Walker：

Graduate life in Beijing was awesome, though I only got to truly experience it for one semester before I was stuck in the US and had to take online classes. I'm so glad I got the experience of studying abroad (which is quite different from teaching) and am excited that so many VMA students also want to challenge themselves to do the same.

I chose the MA program in Chinese Philosophy mostly as an excuse to keep studying Chinese language and traditional thought. My language goals were quickly cut short due to COVID but I continued to read and investigate many ancient texts and thinkers. When I first discovered Chinese thought, it was like a fountain I've never drank from. So far, I'm still impressed by the depth and the freshness of it all.

I love many different thinkers in the Chinese tradition. Without a doubt, Zhuangzi is probably one of the most intelligent and insightful minds that I've ever encountered. He's able, unlike many philosophers, to stop his frantic thinking and wander through life in untroubled ease. In many ways, he reminds me of the Western Philosopher Wittgenstein. I'm also a big fan of Mengzi and Xunzi. In my opinion, Xunzi is the clearer and better thinker whereas Mengzi is the superior teacher. I've learned a lot of from both and am happy whenever I have the opportunity to revisit their works. That said, I wrote my MA thesis on the works of the Mohists, so I really do love nearly every 'school' of thought in ancient China.

北京的研究生生活很棒，虽然我在北京实地体验了一个学期后就因为滞留美国而只能上网课了。我很开心能有在海外留学的机会（和教书的体验是不同的），同时我也为许多VMA学生想像我一样以留学来挑战自己而感到高兴。

我选择中国哲学作为硕士项目主要是为了继续学习中文和中国古代思想。我的语言学习目标因为疫情而很快夭折了，但是我继续坚持阅读和研究了许多中国古籍和古代哲学家。当我第一次邂逅中国先贤的思想时，我觉得它就像我从未品味的甘泉。直到现在，我还是被中国哲学的深度和创新性深深吸引。

我欣赏的中国思想家很多。毫无疑问，庄子是我所见过的最智慧和深刻的思想家之一。与众多哲学家不同的是，他可以在拥有雄奇瑰丽的思想的同时无忧无虑地自在逍遥。他和西方哲学家维特根斯坦有很多相似之处。同时，我也很欣赏孟子和荀子。我觉得，荀子的思想更简明和有见地，而孟子是最出色的老师。我从这两位思想家身上都学到了很多，也很乐意再次拜读他们的作品。虽然前面提到我很喜欢道家和儒家思想，但我的硕士论文研究的是墨家，所以我其实热爱着几乎每一个中国哲学流派。

Q As the first Philosophy teacher in VMA, how do you interpret Philosophy? How has Philosophy influenced your life and pursuits?

作为VMA首创哲学课的老师，您是怎样理解哲学的？哲学如何影响了您的人生和精神追求？

Travis Walker：

I really enjoy this question, as you asked me to 'interpret' rather than 'define' philosophy. Most people ask me to define philosophy which seems impossible to do and satisfy everyone. At it's simplest, I think Philosophy encourages us to ponder some of the hardest questions of being human: is there a right/wrong way to live, how would we know, and so on. Philosophy has given me hope in the darker moments in my life and also needlessly perplexed me. Reading some of the famous philosophers reminds me of having a conversation with an old friend. Each step along the way they pose something unique for you to consider.

我很享受回答这个问题，因为你希望我“解读”而不是“定义”哲学。很多人让我定义哲学，但是真的很难回答或给出一个皆大欢喜的答案。最简单的回答是，哲学促使我们去思索生而为人一些最复杂的问题，比如生活之道是否有是非对错以及我们怎么知道等等。哲学在我人生的至暗时刻亮起了希望之光，也使我陷入不必要的困惑。阅读哲学大师的著作如与老友对话。这些哲学作品中的每一片段都能给你带来独特的感悟。

Q Philosophy was a 600-level course. Recalling upon the Philosophy classes you have taught in VMA, what are some teaching attempts and unforgettable moments you would like to share? (i.e. The Philosophy rap)

哲学是一门600难度的课程，您在教学中作出了哪些尝试，又和学生有过怎样难忘的瞬间呢？（比如学生自制的哲学说唱视频）

Travis Walker：

Yes, Philosophy class is full of interesting puzzles and fun projects! Like you mentioned, students had to create a video that popularized Chinese Philosophy to a Western audience. One group created a Korean-style classroom drama while the others created a rap battle between the Confucians and Daoists. I also fondly remember reading a graphic novel about the life and philosophy of Bertrand Russell. Students have created wonderful presentations about Philosophical topics of their own choosing. I remember some like, 'What is Art?' or an overview of Kurt Godel's incompleteness theorem. I enjoy giving students the space and support to come up with cool projects that are both interesting and insightful.

哲学课真的充满了有趣的思索和课题！就像你提到的，有个作业要求学生制作一个向西方观众科普中国哲学的视频：一个小组制作了一个韩风课堂戏剧，另一组制作了儒家和道家间的说唱对决。另一个令我印象深刻的经历是阅读学生做的记叙罗素生平和哲学思想的漫画小说。在课上，学生自主选择哲学主题，做了非常出色的课堂展示。我记得的一些主题有“什么是艺术？”，库尔特·哥德尔不完备定理概论。我很享受通过给学生自主发挥的空间和一些教学支持而产出的有趣有益的项目型学习成果。

Q Why do you choose to teach in VMA again? How do you like your new life in VMA so far?

您曾在VMA执教三年，毕业后重回VMA的契机是？您以教师身份回到这个校园的感受如何？

Travis Walker：

I think VMA has great potential in its mission to create global citizens and leaders with a Chinese identity. Much of the history of the 21st century already depends on Sino-US relations and I think VMA exists in a unique place to make a contribution towards a more peaceful and just world. The level of friendships and connections I've made here have been profound and I hope to create new ones.

It may not be very meaningful to say this, but many things are exactly the same at VMA while many other things have changed. Love for basketball is still very real! If I'm being honest, I'd have to say I miss teaching AP Microeconomics and Philosophy very much. Research is both a fun and important course, but my heart forever belongs to AP Micro. That course is just too much fun for me.

我觉得VMA因其致力于培养具有中国精神的世界公民和领袖人才而具有广阔的发展空间。中美关系深刻影响了刚刚过去的21世纪初的历史，而VMA的独特定位使其可以为发展更和平、公正的世界作出贡献。过往在这里缔结的友谊和联系始终牵绊着我，而我也希望可以在这里邂逅新的友谊与连接。

也许这听上去很鸡肋，我觉得VMA变了很多，但有些地方依旧如故。对篮球的热爱始终如一是真的！说实话，我必须承认我很想念教授AP微观经济和哲学课。虽然研究课很有趣也很重要，但是我的心永远属于AP微经。这门课真的对我而言太有意思了。

Q What do you plan to teach next year (2022-2023)? Have you thought about restarting Walker’s Dancing Book Club?

新学年您计划教授什么课程呢？会有什么新的设计和元素吗？是否也会延续此前Walker’s Dancing Book Club的传统？

Travis Walker：

Next year, the plan is to teach AP World History (which I've wanted to do for a long time) and restartPhilosophy. I'm going to restructure it so we'll focus less on history or the sequence of ideas and instead have space to consider ideas topic by topic. I really want to push students to come up with their own ideas rather than parrot the ideas of old, dead men.

I'm already (sort of!) reviving the dancing book club. First, it must be said that the dancing book club never really died, it merely transformed into Agora (lead by Chen Junsheng). Secondly, some students approached me about starting a Philosophy club and I couldn't say no. So if you are interested in drinking tea and chatting about philosophical questions, feel free to stop by 206 on Thursdays during PP2. Right now, there's no outside readings because of how busy most students are. We'd love to hear your opinion!

明年，我计划教授AP世界历史（我一直超想教这门课）并重开哲学课。我将重新调整哲学课的结构，我们将减少对哲学思想历史顺序的侧重，从而有更多的空间一个个深入研究这些哲学思想。我非常希望学生能有自己独特的思考，而不只是重复那些已经躺在坟墓里的先哲的思想。

我已经（从某种意义上）重启了书社。首先，我必须强调书社没有真正停运，它只是变成了Agora（现在由陈俊昇带领）。其次，一些学生联系我创建哲学社团，我抵挡不住大家的热情答应了。所以，如果你想喝喝茶聊聊哲学，欢迎在每周四下午PP2来206教室参与我们的哲学社团。因为学生们很忙，现在还没有额外的阅读活动。如果你有想法欢迎告诉我们！

Walker和书社的学生在一起

（摘自万科梅沙书院2018年宣传片）

视频彩蛋：Walker&快问快答

快问快答问题一览

Walker's favorite Chinese dish

最喜欢的中国菜

Walker's favorite Chinese city

最喜欢的中国城市

Walker's favorite poem

最喜欢的诗歌

Walker's favorite philosopher

最欣赏的思想家

A book Walker reads recently

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（一）由于各方面情况的调整与变化，本网所提供的【万科梅沙书院教师Travis Walker采访实录】仅供参考，并不意味赞同其观点或证实其内容的真实性，相关信息敬请以权威部门公布的信息为准。

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