Those Distant Shores: A Narrative of Human Restlessness

Santiago Sia

Apr 2015 · Cambridge Scholars Publishing

About this ebook

“Distant Shores” can mean various things. Literally, distant shores refer to one’s travel destinations. Figuratively, they represent human desires, ambitions, or goals. But “distant shores” also stand for the human yearning, imbedded in everyone, for final fulfillment. Such yearning makes human beings fundamentally restless. This work is about all of these forms of restlessness. In story form, it explores a fundamental philosophical theme: human transcendence. The narrative follows the life-journeys of three Filipino boyhood friends who had different ambitions in, and dreams about, life. A parallel story of another young man from Spain, who is coming to grips with his father's philosophical views on life, links up with one of these Filipinos during a trip to Ireland. As the four characters’ respective and very different narratives unfold, their dialogues develop and their reflections deepen, one is caught up in the challenges they have had to face, the goals they have achieved, and the failures and successes they have encountered. In different, and at times unexpected, ways they illustrate the restlessness of human nature itself.

About the author

M. F. Sia is a recently-retired Assistant Principal who taught English Literature at Terenure College, Dublin, Ireland. S. Sia retired as Professor and Dean of Philosophy at Milltown Institute of the National University of Ireland, and was previously Professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University, LA, for several years. They have co-authored a number of scholarly books, journal articles and conference papers.