Philosophy for Kids : 40 Fun Questions That Help You Wonder About Everything! [Paperback]

David White (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2000

Inspire animated discussions of questions that concern kids—and all of us—with this innovative, interactive book. Open your students' minds to the wonders of philosophy. Allow them to grapple with the questions philosophers have discussed since the ancient Greeks. Questions include: "Who are your friends?" "Can computers think?" "Can something logical not make sense?" "Can you think about nothing?" Young minds will find the range of 40 questions to be both entertaining and informative. If you have ever wondered about questions like these, you are well on the way to becoming a philosopher!

Philosophy for Kids offers young people (ages 10 and up) the opportunity to become acquainted with the wonders of philosophy. Packed with exciting activities arranged around the topics of Values, Knowledge, Reality, and Critical Thinking, this book can be used individually or by the whole class. Each activity allows kids to increase their understanding of philosophical concepts and issues and enjoy themselves at the same time.

In addition to learning about a challenging subject, students philosophizing in a classroom setting as well as the casual reader of Philosophy for Kids will sharpen the ability to think critically about these and similar questions. Experiencing the enjoyment of philosophical thought enhances a young person's appreciation for the importance of reasoning throughout the traditional curriculum of subjects.

The book includes activities, teaching tips, a glossary of terms, and suggestions for further reading.

Grades 4–12

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For teachers familiar with the Community of Inquiry approach used in many philosophy for children activities, this book is worth examining. It provides an alternative approach that focuses directly on philosopical issues as raised by noted philosophers. In the hands of gifted teachers, White's apprach to philosophy for children, especially for gifted students, may encourage a childhood study of philosophy more akin to philosophy as done in many college classrooms. This can be a plus as long as the disparity between intellect and character is avoided.

--James S. Kelly, Department of Philosophy, Miami University, Oxford OH, Teaching Philosophy

About the Author

David A. White has a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Toronto and has taught philosophy in colleges and universities since 1967. He has written eight books and more than 50 articles in philosophy, literary criticism, and educational theory. In 1985, he received a fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies to study the function of myth in Plato's philosophy. Since 1993, he has taught programs in philosophy for the gifted centers and various magnet schools of the Chicago Public School system, the International Baccalaureate program at Lincoln Park High School in Chicago and Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development, grades 4–9. White is an adjunct associate professor in the philosophy department of DePaul University and also teaches for DePaul's American Studies program. White is married to a philosopher, Mary Jeanne Larrabee, and has two sons, Daniel and Colin, both of whom, as demonstrated by their advanced knowledge of mathematics and the principles of computer science, are much smarter than he is.

Product Details

• Paperback: 211 pages
• Publisher: Prufrock Press (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1882664701
• ISBN-13: 978-1882664702
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #131,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughts on Philosophy for Kids by a Philosopher Mom July 7, 2004

By M. Betz Hull, PhD

Format:Paperback

As a PhD in philosophy and as the mother of a two year-old, I was interested in finding a book that dealt with philosophical issues, but in plain language easily accessible to children. What I found was this book: David White accomplishes a lot in _Philosophy for Kids_. White discusses 40 basic philosophical questions you'd find in any introduction to philosophy course (like "Can you doubt that you exist?")and does it in a simple conversational style. Through these questions, White acquaints children with some key philosophical figues, enabling them to eventually associate major thinkers with the philosohical questions (and answers) that made them famous. He also encourages children to think about these issues themselves and develop answers of their own (perhaps different than those of the thinker). White does this through a series of discussion questions at the end of each issue meant for individual contemplation or group discussion. Finally, White provides a short glossary of important philosophiocal terms that can eventually be worked into the child's vocabualry as he/she matures. In all, White offers a great introduction to the world of philosophy for children of different ages. Depending on the age and intellectual maturity of the child, this book can either be a gateway into showing a child how to look at the world more deeply, or as a means to seriously familiarize a child with key philosophical concepts, persons and terms.

51 of 54 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars What makes a GOOD book? October 9, 2001

By Laura Lynn Walsh

Format:Paperback

I have been looking for a book to get my middle school
gifted classes interested in talking about philosophical
issues and this is one book that I have found that addresses
that need.

The actual organization of each section isn't exactly what I
would like, however. I think the students might be more
interested in a confrontational approach. What I mean by
that is that the book asks the question and then gives the
students some choices. It then goes on to explain that how you
selected your answers determines whether you think like X, where
X is a famous philosopher.

It is at this point, that I would find it interesting to
interject some controversy. X thinks this, and here is
why, but Y thought this and these are the resons why they
disagree.

I would also like more of the multiple choice questions.
The students seem to really like taking mini-tests to
see what they are like, e.g., if you marked mostly A's
you are an Aristotelian, if you marked mostly B's you
think more like Des Cartes.

Nevertheless, I have found the book to serve its purpose.
The students are discussing philosophy and they are
exploring the fact that perhaps the teacher doesn't have
all of the answers. Maybe nobody knows all of the answers.
Maybe, even, they might get a chance to make up their own
minds. In that sense, this is a good book.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A good discussion starter... May 29, 2002

By Diogenes99

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an excellent classroom discussion starter which relates philosophy to kid's real-life concerns. There are multiple choice questions at the end of each chapter that hekp kids start thinking about the issues and discussion ideas. It is appropriate for kids as young as 8 and as old as 14.