About

Philippe Roussel - Building our critical minds as concerned citizens

Hi,

My name is Philippe Roussel, and it’s my privilege to have you here, reading this page.

At a time of democratic decline and overwhelming environmental challenges, true builders are needed in society more than ever. In its own modest way, One Home Planet can help.

My professional background has always been in the field of didactics, either as a philosophy teacher or as a French copywriter. I like to look at things in depth, and I am passionate about conveying what I learn. As a bi-national, moreover, I know firsthand that we are not citizens of a country by merely speaking its language but by recognizing ourselves as part of its political project. Democracy holds at its core that there are no “others” among free men; freedom and justice are a matter of principle, not of cultural differences. This is where I stand and write from.

For the longest time, I had a website but did not know what to do with it. I then realized that if I really wanted to facilitate the debate about democracy, sustainable economics, and our essential relationship with nature, I had to step out of the “blog” mentality. The whole thing had to become a genuine project anyone could join.

My personal posts go from question to question, making you part of the same debating process. That wouldn’t change. Walking in the steps of the old Socrates, along with him I confess that all I genuinely know is my own ignorance. Yet, this is the principle itself of rationality: it is not my opinions that matter but the logical path followed, not the eventual conclusion but the process to reach it.

The project itself took shape when I completed my own posts with a Book Club and its Group Studies program. The goal is for people from all walks of life to have the opportunity to study at a regular pace in a group. The books chosen are pivotal in understanding democracy, the economy, and environmental issues in the 21st century. Overall, their study allows one to dedicate some time to critical thinking away from the noise, frenzy, and madness of this world.

Sure enough, critical thinking is not civic engagement in the ordinary sense of organizing or demonstrating, but it is crucial for getting together to a better place. By the same token, as much as I believe in the necessity of critical thinking I am also aware that real meaning is only found in our relationships with others. Building society from the ground up cannot be done without a deeply felt sense of community. A membership website, One Home Planet is a place to rest, have fun, work, and, ultimately, bind in the effort for the common good.