Why We Are in Need of Tails

Why We Are in Need of Tails
Available January 21, 2020
Fiction

Our most nuanced skills for communication were lost when we lost our tails, so the story goes. 

Huk and Tuk explore ways we can compensate for this loss, by telling stories — tales — through polyphonic listening and by entering into dialogue to create a new, deeper understanding of ourselves and the world we live in.

Doing philosophy with children inspired Maria daVenza Tillmanns to recreate the bonds of meaningful communication in the writing of this whimsical, playful story. Philosophy should make us —children and adults — re-think what we think we know and push the boundaries of accepted practices. Hopefully, it will also make us laugh about taking things too seriously.

Reviews

Read Sergey Borisov's book review, published in Philosophy Now.

“This little book constitutes a loving plea for practicing philosophy with children and adults alike, to get a closer connection with each other, develop a deeper understanding, and to reconnect to this beautiful world we live in. In a lighthearted way it explains complex philosophical notions so they become understandable to anyone. Capricious illustrations by Blair Thornley form a cheerful complement and bring Huk and Tuk to life.”

— Dr. Claartje van Sijl, philosophical counselor & trainer

Author(s)