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shadows_numberless

- 2 years ago

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SoulPancake Jr.

To what extent are children capable of thinking about philosophy? Is it beneficial to teach philosophy in elementary schools? At what age should they start?

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I personally think that would be a mistake to force elementary school kids to learn philosophy. We already put too much pressure on kids to learn a great amount of subjects in schools, and at younger and younger ages. I also doubt the quality of the education of philosophy at that level. Even at the high school level, teenagers learn barely anything from their classes.

I think college is the only place that a person can really focus on philosophy seriously, mainly because the professors are much more serious than the grade school teachers.

"I children" should read "my children"

Formal study of philosophy of the kind described by @warpedglass in the second response definitely wouldn't work, and might just turn kids off. But very young children are capable of thinking very deep thoughts. Some of the things I children said to me when they were quite youn totally blew me away.

From my experiences with children I think they could be taught critical thinking skills, and could discuss concepts of right V wrong, justice, and freedom. I started teaching my children critical thinking when they were toddlers, and they learned readily.

I'd begin with conceptual metaphysics.

Wow, that's just such the coolest idea. Every school should do that. That's just such a smart idea.

Teaching kids to think? Wow, that's dangerous. Especially in the Bible belt. There would be a revolt.

Let's do it.

You know what, scratch that... It's useless to teach philosophy, but not useless to discuss it. You can't give them a proper philosophical topic (eg. explain justice with respect to classical and contemporary works, and critically analyze them), but you can discuss broad topics with them... Nor can you toss a philosophical reading at them and expect them to wrap their heads around it... But some instances (such as fair vs. right in the video) are things to which they can related and properly work with... Those could work.

It's actually useless to teach philosophy to young children... Until mid-highschool, they're largely incapable of forming the important abstract thoughts and concepts... They're underdeveloped.

@shadows_numberless

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shadows_numberless

SoulPancake Jr.

Takoon

BlueCrayon

"I children" should read "my children"

BlueCrayon

zamfir

I'd begin with conceptual metaphysics.

existentialwalrus

Wow, that's just such the coolest idea. Every school should do that. That's just such a smart idea.

Becka

Teaching kids to think? Wow, that's dangerous. Especially in the Bible belt. There would be a revolt.

Let's do it.

WarpedGlass1

WarpedGlass1

It's actually useless to teach philosophy to young children... Until mid-highschool, they're largely incapable of forming the important abstract thoughts and concepts... They're underdeveloped.

SoulPancake Jr.

"I children" should read "my children"

I'd begin with conceptual metaphysics.

Wow, that's just such the coolest idea. Every school should do that. That's just such a smart idea.

Teaching kids to think? Wow, that's dangerous. Especially in the Bible belt. There would be a revolt.Let's do it.

It's actually useless to teach philosophy to young children... Until mid-highschool, they're largely incapable of forming the important abstract thoughts and concepts... They're underdeveloped.

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Teaching kids to think? Wow, that's dangerous. Especially in the Bible belt. There would be a revolt.

Let's do it.