Philosophy in the Classroom [Paperback]

Matthew Lipman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1980

This is a textbook for teachers that demonstrates how philosophical thinking can be used in teaching children. It begins with the assumption that what is taught in schools is not (and should not be) subject matter, but rather ways of thinking. The main point is that the classroom should be converted into a community of inquiry, and that one can begin doing that with children. Based on the curriculum that Matt Lipman has developed at the Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children, which he heads, this book describes the curriculum and explains its use. The text is self-contained, however. This revision is thorough-going and incorporates new chapters, as well as new material in old chapters. Part One focuses on the need of educational change and the importance of philosophical inquiry in developing new approaches. Part Two discusses curriculum and teaching methodology, including teacher behaviour conducive to helping children. Part Three deals with developing logic skills and moral judgement. It concludes with a chapter on the sorts of philosophical themes pertinent to ethical inquiry for children: the right and the fair, perfect and right, free will and determinism, change and growth, truth, caring, standards and rules, thinking and thinking for oneself. Education, in this sense, is not a matter of dispensing information; it is the process of assisting in the growth of the whole individual. Matthew Lipman is Director of the Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children. Ann Margaret Sharp, Assistant Director of the Institute, is also co-editor with Matthew Lipman of "Growing Up with Philosophy". Frederick S. Oscanyan is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at Yale University.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A textbook for teachers that demonstrates how philosophical thinking can be used in teaching children

About the Author

Matthew Lipman is Director of the Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children.

Ann Margaret Sharp, Assistant Director of the Institute, is also co-editor with Matthew Lipman of Growing Up with Philosophy.

Frederick S. Oscanyan is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at Yale University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Temple University Press; 2nd edition (May 15, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877221839
• ISBN-13: 978-0877221838
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaching critical thinking instead of brain control, February 13, 2009

By 

Guy Denutte "A concerned citizen" (Cali, Colombia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Philosophy in the Classroom (Paperback)

Nowadays, our educational system transmits so much nonsense that our children end up being complete idiots. Even worse : they end up being proud to be idiots ! Look at the success of the series "xxx for dummies". Of course this is all done on purpose. Capitalism thrives on idiots. Capitalism requires workers to fulfill only a very small activity within the bigger production process. Therefore school prepares us for our adult life teaching all kind of different topics totally out of context.

Now, instead of filling up the poor little heads of our children with a lot of nonsense out of context, the authors of this book propose introducing philosophy in the classroom, educating children from their natural way of questioning at different stages in their lives, and responding seriously to all those questions. The authors conceive the mind not like a passive recipient that has to be filled with useless facts, but would like the children to learn things with the same spirit that inspired the early inventors and discoverers. In this way, children would assimilate new knowledge far easier and they would understand the bigger picture. This would make them much more creative in their later life.

Such a world would be totally different. Democracy could finally become real. We would have a world full of critical workers and skeptical consumers. It wouldn't work for capitalism, that's for sure. But it would mean a lot to humanity.

5 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Demonstrates how to use philosophical thinking with kids, January 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Philosophy in the Classroom (Paperback)

This is a textbook for teachers that demonstrates how philosophical thinking can be used in teaching children. It begins with the assumption that what is taught in schools is not (and should not be) subject matter but rather ways of thinking. The main point is that the classroom should be converted into a community of inquiry, and that one can begin doing that with children. This book is based on the curriculum that Matt Lipman has developed at the Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children.