Social relevance
What does it mean for society when you hold philosophical discussions with children and young people?
The sociopolitical relevance of Philosophy with Children and Youth
What are the social benefits of doing philosophy with children?
Little is known about the effect Philosophy with Children has on society, nor wether its aims can truly be fulfilled. Nevertheless, there has been a noticeable positive effect on other subjects within the school system.
Philosophy with Children can impart certain social skills that are necessary to live in a world that is intercultural, international and interdepentend. Among these skills is an openess to new methods and ideas, respect for different opinions, the use of conflict and oposition as an instrumet to gain new experiences and better comprehension, critical and creative thinking, finding alternative solutions and the courage to correct one's mistakes.
Philosophy with Children could thus be the ideal framework for creating intersubjective experiences where one can gain understanding of complex and culturally plural ideas. In this kind of experience the goal would not be to reach a consensus, but to gain mutual comprehension.
Philosophy with Children prepares its students to responsibly and critically cope with the demands of the real world where social and economic values are in constant flux. Through interaction with one another in a philosophical setting, children become inependent, thoughtful and responsible citizens capable of preserving peace and democracy.
In order to live together peacefully we must develop a culture of communication and tolerance, two values that also play an important role in our developing education system and are at the heart of Philosophy with Children.
Philosophy aids in the development of an identity for each individual that can be enriched through cultural plurality. Such an identity would incorporate responsibility, critical judgment, creativity, solidarity and nonviolent conflict resolution. Because this curriculum is complemented by intercultural experience, and the international community complemented by this curriculum, it must therefore be planned as an international whole.
The aim is also to promote responsible interaction with one another, with the flood of data and the protection of privacy in the networked world, as well as to respect the dignity of the individual, self-determination and freedom of action in the virtual world. It is therefore the task of all of us to shape the world in a human way.
Philosophizing with children and young people could therefore be the ideal framework for developing intersubjective experience and understanding of complex cultural plurality. It is less about reaching a consensus and more about achieving mutual understanding.
One task of philosophizing with children and young people is to prepare children and young people to deal with reality and to help them to face a world in which societal, economic and social values are in a constant state of change in a critical and responsible manner and to cope with its demands through interaction. The social relevance of philosophy for children and young people therefore lies in the fact that children and young people are educated to become independent, thinking and responsible citizens who are capable of criticism and who actively contribute to the preservation of peace and democracy.
However, the ability to live together peacefully is only possible if certain prerequisites are met. These include the development of a culture of dialogue and the ability to be tolerant. However, neither the ability to engage in dialogue nor the ability to be tolerant develop from one day to the next. It is a development process that must play a role at all levels of the education system.
If philosophy is to be used to promote personality-building, social and communicative skills, to deal with cultural diversity and to develop attitudes and skills such as responsibility, critical judgement, creativity, solidarity and non-violent conflict resolution, it is necessary to start at all levels of curriculum planning and include transnational dimensions
Austrian Center of Philosophy with Children and Youth
+43 (0)316 90370 201
Karmeliterhof
Karmeliterplatz 2, 2nd floor
8010 Graz, Austria
Mo - Th 08:00-16:00
Fr 08:00-12:00
kinderphilosophie-gesellschaft.uni-graz.at