Deep thinker: Sean Schoen posing with his award at IPO 2024.
TO the outside world, he may seem like a typical teenager, but Thew Sean Schoen’s depth of thought belies his appearance.
With a passion for philosophy, the 17-year-old often devotes time to exploring the essence of the world around him.
Aside from burying his head in books that fill his “huge shelf”, Sean Schoen writes philosophical articles and shares them with his peers for review.
“Philosophy means more than just thinking. It’s a study where you attempt to question everything around you.
“It’s where you ask about the structure of even the simplest things in life,” he told StarEdu.
One of the bite-sized pieces of philosophy he finds interesting is moral relativism.
“There is no objective way to define morality. Things are only correct in relation to other things. Trying to standardise everything harms those who don’t fit into the norm,” he asserted.
Buoyed by his silver medal win at the International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO) in May this year, the Catholic High School Petaling Jaya, Selangor, student is even more determined than ever to pursue philosophy.
He plans to co-author papers with lecturers he knows after completing his upcoming Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations. He also aims to host lectures and philosophical discussions.
“These sessions will not only focus on western philosophy but also incorporate Malaysian elements and culture to make it more accessible to locals,” he shared.
He added that he aspires to publish a novel and a philosophical journal in the future.
Sean Schoen’s philosophical journey began at the age of 13 when he joined the Malaysian Philosophy Olympiad (MyPO).
Reading his mother’s thesis on musical narrativity in local compositions for her master’s degree sparked his intellectual curiosity.
“I thought MyPO was a good avenue to expand my interest,” he shared.
“I love the lecturers and people at IPO and MyPO. They’ll be there for you when you need them. There’s a warm feeling that makes it feel like home; it’s a place where I can hone my skills,” he added.
Reflecting on his achievement at IPO 2024 held in Helsinki, Finland, from May 16 to 19, Sean Schoen said it filled him with pride.
“The award is recognition of what I’ve been pursuing for five years and the efforts I’ve put in,” he said, adding that it was his second IPO outing.
According to Sean Schoen, at the IPO, participants were given four quotes from philosophical texts and were required to write an essay responding to one of the quotes within four hours.
By continuously questioning the things around him and asking himself even the simplest questions like “Why do they do that?” and “What happens if they do that?”, Sean Schoen said these methods help him improve his philosophical skills day by day.
“There are certainly challenges I’ve faced along the way. Mainly, people are very dismissive of philosophical practices, which leads to a lack of resources,” he shared.
To overcome these challenges, he joins like-minded communities and engages in online discussions on philosophy.
He also actively participates in clubs like the Malaysian Association of Education for Philosophy and Thinking, where he attends lectures.
Aside from philosophy, Sean Schoen, who intends to study law after his SPM, is interested in literature, writing, music and debate.
Influenced by his mother, who is a musician, he composes short snippets of music in his free time.
“To really get to know philosophy, you just have to think deeply about the things around you, no matter how simple they may seem.
“Every time you think, ask yourself – what is the action, the aim of the action, and what consequence does it bring?” he concluded.
Bryan, 17, a student in Selangor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.
1 Find a scenario in today’s newspaper involving an ethical dilemma (for example, helping someone in need at personal risk). In groups of five, discuss your views on possible courses of action, providing reasons for your decisions.
2Do you agree with Sean Schoen’s belief that morality cannot be defined objectively? Why or why not? Share your views with the class, backing your opinion with examples or personal experiences.
The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes the use of English language in primary and secondary schools nationwide. For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.
