"As you sow, you shall reap"

Cap. 4 Date la buena vida

In my opinion, Savater is right when he thinks that his son should use his freedom to live a good life which is indeed to have a good human life, that is to say, a life among human beings in a process of reciprocity with each other.
I think that we live a good life when we do the right thing to others because in that way we feel good. Nor should we forget that "As you sow, you shall reap".
So I would like to mention the prayer of Saint Francis Assisi who gave up his wealthy life to live a good one and whose words are so moving that I appreciate them most. They are an example of how we should live:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where, there is hatred, let me sow love;
where, there is injury, pardon;
where, there is doubt, faith;
where, there is despair, hope:
where, there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

With regard to the last sentence, I think that it sums up what is to humanize because it is in dying to our mistreatments (egoisms, hate, incomprehensions, lack of love, etc) that we have our reward even on the earth.

On your own

Cap. 3 Haz lo que quieras

It is true that when we are young our life is, in a way, controlled by our parents. But we should not expect them to rule our life for ever because whether we like it or not, we grow old and we must learn about making our own decisions.
Although what our parents have taught us will sometimes be useful, some other times it will not. It is our life so our decisions will depend on our history, experience, likes, personality, wishes and the circumstances we are going through. When adults, youngsters will have freedom to choose what is convenient or not for them according to that.
By the way, I associate that freedom with responsibility because they will no longer depend on their parents and as a consequence they'll be responsible for their decisions. That is why they should think carefully before making them, thinking twice and even more in some cases like Savater recommends.
I think that using their intelligence and reasoning so as not to be influenced by others, listening to their heart and having a clear conscience will help them to be as right as possible in their decisions.

What do you side with: Good or Evil?

Cap. 2 Ordenes, costumbres y caprichos.
The good and the evil exist within us and sometimes it is very difficult for us to decide on what side to be. However, if we train up youngsters to do what is due, to do good, to have good habits which will become good customs in the long run, I think that they will be more likely to do their duty when they grow old, in any circumstance of life. And it is by doing their duty that they will be satisfied and happy.

Who is right?

Chapter I – “De qué va la ética”
I agree with Savater when he says that Ethics is to know how to live or the art of living. As humans beings we have free will, that is to say, freedom to choose how we want to live but we should be careful about it.
Firstly, we have to know about ourselves, about what we are able to do or not. Secondly, we should be sure that what we want to do do not hurt anyone. We live in society and what is good for us may not be good for others who have the same freedom as we do.
At last, we should know to distinguísh the right way among other choices to decide on it. And what is the right way? I think it is the way that leads us to make decisions we should never regret having made. We take a risk of course, but that is life: to make decisions at any time.
It is not easy as it seems to be because sometimes we can make mistakes and some other times, although we tend to chose the easier way or the most convenient for us we have to give it up to help others.
So it is very important that educators prepare children to develop their intelligence as well as their critical thinking in order to make their best bet in life.

You can do it!

With regard to “Aviso antipedagógico”and “Prólogo”, I side with Savater in that it is essential that moral reflexion play a big part in education and that we should also take into account the actual sense of freedom. We live in a society where citizens are different and think differently from each other but they should be respected as such.
On the other hand, Savater is very clever at dealing with his son. Knowing the limit of youngsters’ patience,he manages to tell his son what he should know through a book, without imposing himself on him. But what impressed me so much was the piece of advice Savater gave his son in just two words: “have confidence” meaning confidence in himself, his intelligence and his instinctive love. I would say they are two magic words because they are powerful; they give encouragement and hope to do what we should do and we do not dare.
All in all, I think neither parents nor teachers, who are in a way like parents, should never forget to tell their youngsters to have confidence in themselves again and again because in this way they will help them to succeed in whatever they want to achieve.