Truth, Thinking, Indoctrination and Meaning: "Philosophy for Children" Is Not Just For Children

Abstract

Introduction:  In the Fall of 1981, after participating in the Professors' Workshop in Philosophy for Children given by Matthew Lipman and Ann Sharp during the Summer of 1980, I introduced an undergraduate course, "Philosophizing With Children" at the College of White Plains of Pace University.  Since that time, I have taught the course once a semester during each academic year.  I have had as my goal the emergence of a community of inquiry from both the students and myself so that we would be able to encourage one another to think about things that are important to us, think reflectively and critically about our thinking and, thereby, enrich our own lived and the lives of others.  My goal, as Lipman's is for the Philosophy for Children program, is not to enable students to learn Philosophy, or for me to teach them "children's" Philosophy or theories of pedagogy but to encourage them to think philosophically.  If they can do this with their peers, they are well on their way to being able to do it with others, including children.