Empathic Pedagogy: Community of Inquiry and the Development of Empathy

Abstract

Introduction:  Many Philosophy for Children advocates argue that the practice of communal philosophical dialogue develops students’ judgment making skills and facilitates the growth of reasonable subjects (Pritchard, 1996; Lipman & Sharp 1978; Lipman, 1991; Sprod, 2001, Sharp and Splitter, 1995). While these are appropriate avenues for exploring the moral education potential of the program, the literature can be further enriched by examining how Community of Inquiry supports the development of empathy.