The Chinese University's philosophy department aims to raise $100,000 for a scholarship to honour the memory of one of its most popular professors, who died of cancer in December.
Professor Chen Te, also a warden for a student hostel at Chung Chi College, taught in the department for more than 30 years. He retired in 1999 but continued to teach the course 'Introduction to Philosophy' and act as warden of Lee Shu Pui Hall until he died at 70.
The Y.C. Liang Lecture Hall, which had a capacity of 120, was always packed during his lessons. Although only 26 students were admitted to the philosophy department each year, his introductory philosophy course attracted nearly 100 non-major students.
The department plans to grant a $5,000 scholarship to the student with the highest score each semester as an incentive for more students to take philosophy courses - either as electives or majors, according to department head Dr Kwan Tze-wan.
'The memorial scholarship is the first of its kind in our department. We are also doing this to honour Professor Chen as he has done an outstanding job in enlightening eager young minds,'' he said.
Two professors now share teaching of the first-year course. Dr Kwan said philosophy had always been given less attention. 'Philosophy may look irrelevant to life at the first glance, but actually it's everywhere - it's in the problem-solving process in our daily life, and it's in the value judgments behind each of our decisions. We hope more people will recognise the importance of philosophy, and benefit from this art of life.'
