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Children as young as FIVE get philosophy lessons

dailymail.co.uk — While other five-year-olds are learning to spell their names and tie up shoelaces, infants at one school are debating life's great mysteries - in philosophy lessons. The Philosophy for Children course encourages pupils to grapple with conundrums such as free will, religion and the nature of luck. Here are some of the questions they will be asked:

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  • gabeh73, on 02/08/2008, -1/+48i was suspicious, but it actually sounds good..I'd want my child to do that...I guess I can do it myself with them
    • ICSU, on 02/08/2008, -5/+9Use education instead of brainwashing and religious and other dogmas will be mostly gone in 1-2 generations.
      • mrsdz50, on 02/08/2008, -4/+8How faulty is this thinking. The contrary is true. Religion is not the enemy. It's not either/or. Education should (if it's true education and not "training") help us and our children to be able to examine our core beliefs, including religious beliefs, in a clearer fashion. When you study the Reniassance men, you will see that religion wasn't abandoned, but rather, what they believed was challenged and sharpened.
        • nycmac247, on 02/08/2008, -6/+4"Religion is not the enemy."
          You mean "spirituality," I think.
          Religion is complete ***** and its hard to imagine wanting it to survive anywhere near its present from(s).
          -- Kind of like the current US political parties...

        • Kurlumbenus, on 02/08/2008, -1/+2Religion is older than almost every other social convention and shows no sign of every disappearing. Get used to it.
    • umrgregg, on 02/08/2008, -1/+3When you teach a child philosophy, they HAVE to place their chin on their hands (see article). If they do not, they will not learn philosophy.
    • smackhero, on 02/08/2008, -0/+4i think all public schools should start teaching kids philosophy. it's such an important life/character development tool. learning the rules of logic/informal fallacies not only helps kids distinguish truth from falsehood, insight from sophistry, but practicing dialectic at a young age helps kids learn to be more open-minded, and how to confront differing opinions in a productive/non-hostile manner.

      beyond all that, it would also foster inquisitiveness, teach kids to question personal and societal assumptions, and make the next generation more morally consciousness. establishing philosophy as part of the core curriculum of primary & secondary school students could be the social catalyst we need to effect a desperately needed cultural revolution.
  • Murple, on 02/08/2008, -1/+47As a former philosophy student, I think that's amazing. I wish I had been able to start thinking about htings like this, and discussing them with kids when I was young.
    • mikezerobot, on 02/08/2008, -6/+4What stopped you?
      • aywwts4, on 02/08/2008, -1/+25Elementary school teachers that would become vicious and hostile when a 7 year old student proposes that perhaps the textbook answer key might be... wrong.

        It didn't stop me, but its not exactly an environment conducive to free thought.
        • mrsdz50, on 02/08/2008, -0/+6I've been there also. But as I became an adult, I took on the learning myself and kept asking the big questions, never really found another adult while I was growing up to have those discussions with me. Now, I ask young people those questions. You should see their eyes light up!
      • Asrrin29, on 02/08/2008, -0/+7Not so much for philosophy, but I've had teachers stifle my quest for knowledge when I was younger. I remember the first time we learned to subtract in math, and I asked what happens when you subtract a bigger number from a smaller number. I got yelled at that that is not how it works and to do it the right way. Only now years later do I know the full potential of the Reals and Complex numbers
        • ostracize, on 02/08/2008, -1/+5Ha, in grade 1, I just said screw these mundane subtraction exercises and drew a vertical line over the subtract symbol and I added the number together. Instead of being praised for my outside the box thinking, I was chastised for not following the rules.
          • spectre_25gt, on 02/08/2008, -1/+1Dugg. I remember doing the same thing in kindergarten.
      • NichowA, on 02/08/2008, -1/+0People often dismiss philosophical questions as trifling or unimportant. It's more important to teach for the standardized tests than to muse on the meaning of life, human nature, our capacity for knowledge or any of the other old philosophy questions.
    • Zera, on 02/08/2008, -6/+5When I was little, my aunt introduced me and my cousins to Star Trek, which is a pure philosophical look at all of mankind's issues, problems and controversies. Sure there are exceptions, but Star Trek is great for a young mind to explore all the sides of so many different issues.
    • markgl, on 02/08/2008, -8/+1yeah right. when you're 5 you should pick boogers and play on the monkey bars. not be forced to think like an adult. Let kids be kids for awile be for they're given lessons on life and ponder the universe.
      • MWeather, on 02/08/2008, -0/+3Then don't send them to school.
      • NichowA, on 02/08/2008, -0/+4Kids already ask a ton of questions like the ones in the articles, and are unfortunately dismissed as just asking child-like questions when there is really some depth behind them. I love that they take time to actually examine these kinds of topics; it encourages children to be unafraid to question the world around them, even from a young age.
      • Kurlumbenus, on 02/08/2008, -0/+1Adults don't think that way.
    • markgl, on 02/08/2008, -4/+1damn i can't spell!
    • Murple, on 02/08/2008, -2/+1When I was 5 I was questioning the universe in the way 5 year-olds can. My favorite word was "Why?" and I loved getting answers. I was lucky enough to have parents who were patient enough to explain things to me. Some 5 year olds question things and think about abstract ideas on their own, and classes like philosophy teach you that you're not "weird" for questioning everything. If we'd had philosophy class in elementary school, I probably wouldn't have been so strange to my peers, who thought I was just weird. They would have been learning the value of asking questions with me. Instead I had to figure it out on my own, and wait until University to turn my questions into an academic pursuit.
    • The_Dude, on 02/08/2008, -0/+2More important that the actual issues, is the nature of the reasoning skills that is developed. Thanks to that cat Socrates.
      • Kurlumbenus, on 02/08/2008, -0/+1A pederast if there ever was one.
  • Michael9636, on 08/04/2008, -2/+35This is great. In the UK? - is this being done anywhere in the USA? This kind of teaching should be universal, global.
    • weiwuwei, on 02/08/2008, -1/+19I'm not aware of philosophy being taught to young children in US public schools. I, too, would like to see that kind of teaching around the globe.
      • known, on 02/08/2008, -0/+10I think they should record all "why" questions from children and display them through a website....
        • adooga, on 02/08/2008, -1/+3I nominate you to do that. Can someone second the nomination?
        • Gambit89, on 02/09/2008, -0/+4I second. I often am taken aback on how simple the questions are, especially the ones that I've been "thinking about" and "formulating" for a "long time".
    • zen4444, on 02/08/2008, -2/+8It will never be taught in US public schools. The whole point of public education is to make unthinking consumers.
      • JohnboiWaltune, on 02/08/2008, -1/+3Generally true, but 5-10% of the students in the U.S. who are tagged as gifted and well-indoctrinated are put into the AP track, grooming them to be the future administrators of the society. They are given a real education, while the rest get the "unthinking consumer" education.

        A real education with critical thinking can undermine religious indoctrination, which won't stand in the U.S.
      • smackhero, on 02/08/2008, -0/+2that is pretty much what the school system has become, but this can change. the biggest thing impeding progressive reform in our society isn't necessarily the political establishment, like government, but rather our mainstream culture. whenever a progressive reform is suggested, there is such a strong rearguard reaction from the general public because we've adopted a generally reactionary/anti-intellectual culture.

        this would definitely be a huge step forward, and would foster progressive attitudes like open-mindedness, intellectual curiosity, and free thought in future generations. this could then pave the way for societal reforms and progressive changes in society when our children mature into adults and take the reigns of social leadership. but the difficulty is in reforming public education right now, to give our kids this advantage in the future.

        i would encourage those who see the value of teaching our kids philosophy to petition the school board, organize other parents in the community, or put forth the issue at city council meetings to introduce such curricula in your local public schools. depending on what kind of community you live in, you might experience a lot of resistance from parents, or you may receive support from other parents who see the same way. in any case, it's worth a shot.
    • NichowA, on 02/08/2008, -0/+3Another thing I really wish was required teaching in public schools (and which is a branch of philosophy) is logic. It may be a pipe dream, but I have hopes that it could help diminish the sheer levels of asshattery present in the world.
      • smackhero, on 02/08/2008, -0/+2i agree. our society has abandoned reason and embraced irrational beliefs precisely because most of our population is unfamiliar with argumentative logic. and because of this, our elected leaders are increasingly incompetent as the public is easily swayed by sophistry and mindless appeals to emotion.

        but i expect the religious establishment will show great opposition to any attempts to teach our children philosophical logic/dialectic/informal fallacies because it would directly undermine their power as children will no longer be so easily indoctrinated by fallacious arguments. and once kids start questioning their religious beliefs, their parents will inevitably become outraged that such subversive ideas as logic and reason are being taught in schools.

        we may need to free our society from the reactionary influence of religion first before philosophical logic can be taught to our children. the first estate still has supreme power & privilege in our society. freedom of religion has effectively given the clergy and theists special treatment in the eyes of the law. that is why child-molesters in the clergy walk free as the law turns a blind eye. and individuals can be silenced, their freedom of expression revoked, if the church takes umbrage at their actions.
        • NichowA, on 02/09/2008, -0/+1The church might resist such a motion, but there are a great many famous (at least within the field) Christian philosophers. The church would quite possibly have a difficult time trying to come up with a way to oppose that kind of curriculum without looking like complete douchebags. I agree with you that we would be better off without a lot of the dogmatic beliefs that come with religion, but I think we'd have to find some replacement for the social and artistic aspects of it.
    • Suricou, on 02/08/2008, -0/+3I dont think it would take off in the US. Enough parents would get upset that their children are being taught to question religion that no school board would want to risk angering them.
  • Error601, on 02/08/2008, -21/+4Trite rhetorical questions != discussing philosophy.
    • knde, on 02/08/2008, -2/+25They are ONLY five, seven and ten respectively!

      However, asking questions for which there are no answers at the back of a book (or predetermined answers), requires that they think a bit more than usual. And that's not a bad thing. You must have had at least one conversation with an utterly bumbling idiot, and thought to yourself, "Would you please think?!?!"

      I wager you'd agree that the world would be a better place if everyone just "thought" a bit more :-)
      • 3tcp, on 02/08/2008, -4/+2Unless those questions are inane. Children are incapable of comprehending actual philosophical questions and presenting nonsense simply encourages them to dwell on the trivial. It isn't as if children don't think about things, they're constantly observing the world around them and exploring things in contemplative ways that we don't really bother with when we've grown up. Elementary school aged kids are constantly developing hypothetical situations in their minds and making observations and trying to find the answers to them, this kind of ***** doesn't do anthing for them.
    • Daz3, on 02/08/2008, -4/+11I'd be happy with a basic course in logic and critical thinking, teaching children to identify logical fallacies in arguments; would take care of religion, superstition and all the other unjustified beliefs that people fill their lives with.
    • Rndm_Tngnt, on 02/08/2008, -6/+5Isn't rhetoric the basis of philosophy?
      • TheChihuahua, on 02/08/2008, -0/+15Or is philosophy the basis of rhetoric? Hmmm...

        Sorry, couldn't resist.
        • The_Dude, on 02/09/2008, -0/+1See, that's an example of rhetoric.
      • The_Dude, on 02/08/2008, -1/+1No. Philosophy relies on logic. Rhetoric is like selling. Fallacious arguments are completely okay in rhetoric.
    • Zera, on 02/08/2008, -0/+16Yep, and 2+2 != Calculus...........

      But it's a start...
    • Aggaman, on 02/08/2008, -0/+5They really should have asked the kids what the word "nothing" refers to. That's a definite teacher-stumper.
    • ianam, on 02/08/2008, -1/+1The questions aren't rhetorical -- you apparently don't understand what "rhetorical question" means. As for whether they are trite -- apparently not, since they result in debates.
      • 3tcp, on 02/09/2008, -1/+1Kids don't have debates, they have shouting matches
    • Cayfox, on 02/08/2008, -1/+4Never heard of a little something called Socratic Method?
  • TomK88, on 02/08/2008, -1/+30Better than the usual garbage like:
    "Why is America the best country in the world"
    -Thank You For Smoking
    • daxsymbiont, on 02/08/2008, -3/+13That's just nazist.

      Extremist nationalism at its best.

      And it's scary that almost every american believes it.
      • DiogenesJr, on 02/08/2008, -11/+1So you're left with two alternatives: you believe that your country is the best and, therefore, America is not the best or you believe that no country is best and everyone is about the same.
        Both options are problematic from a rational standpoint. Both indicate a lack of rational standards. I, too, was a student of philosophy once...Before I decided that making lots and lots of money was way better than being better at something no one cared about. And that, my friend, is exactly why America is the best...
        • adooga, on 02/08/2008, -1/+4You haven't quantified how you're measuring "best" so neither of your options are valid. And that, my friend is why no-one wants to hear your crap.
        • ianam, on 02/08/2008, -1/+2With such a stupid false dichotomy you're not one to be talking about "rational".
      • AntzNZ, on 02/08/2008, -3/+7I think it is quite normal for people to believe there home country is the best in the world, I know alot do here in New Zealand.
        • adooga, on 02/08/2008, -1/+8Yeah, most people have a special soft spot for their home, just like parents do for their own kids. It doesn't mean your kids are any more special than anyone else's though. I think Americans forget that we're all special.
        • daxsymbiont, on 02/08/2008, -2/+1no, the difference is it's scary how many americans shout it. they don't just "prefer" it.
      • expunged, on 02/08/2008, -2/+1Godwin's Law in effect. You lose.

        Nice sweeping generalization, too.
        • ianam, on 02/08/2008, -2/+2You have no idea what Godwin's Law is. It doesn't say anything about anyone losing -- that's a myth propagated by morons like yourself.
  • luckyscs, on 02/08/2008, -1/+16Notice the picture of the class. Every last one of them has their hand on their chin.

    • CurToast, on 02/08/2008, -1/+9I'm pretty sure they're supposed to look pensive, not bored.
      • norbiu, on 02/08/2008, -0/+2I'm pretty sure you can be pensive without having to look like a tightass.
    • ishtari, on 02/08/2008, -0/+5Yes! I thought it was really funny and made me think of Rodin's sculpture "The Thinker" :)
    • bosssmiley, on 02/08/2008, -1/+12That's how philosophy is done. The pressure and warmth of the hand causes the small cogitatio gland in the chin to release the hormone philosophidrine into the bloodstream. This puts the brain into a reverie state where it becomes especially receptive to rarefied thought.
      This also explains why all *proper* philosophers have big beards: the beard acts as a permanent source of warmth to the chin.
      I knows science me. :-)
  • luskin, on 02/08/2008, -5/+2What they're doing is great. It will help children to think "big" and critically.
    By the way, read the article; don't just assume it's what you think of as philosophy. Most developmental psychologists would say that the vast majority of children wouldn't really get much out of that until they're about 11. It doesn't matter how smart they are, they'd just have trouble reasoning in the metaphysical.
    • PoeticExplosion, on 02/08/2008, -0/+1How is that not "what you think of as philosophy"? Those are pretty typical philosophical questions, though admittedly somewhat simplified.
  • julianwan, on 02/08/2008, -2/+8simply brilliant
  • filemeaway, on 02/08/2008, -2/+17I like toortles.
  • kolop1, on 02/08/2008, -18/+2 You can't teach someone to be philosophical. You either are or your not.
    • DeeprBlue, on 02/08/2008, -0/+9Dugg up for hilarity, intentional or not.
    • daxsymbiont, on 02/08/2008, -1/+3the whole "talent" notion is a fraud.

      some are just too closed to new horizons.
    • ianam, on 02/08/2008, -0/+1That is SUCH a stupid claim ...
    • QuickeningYak, on 02/08/2008, -0/+1Before I write you off as Douchey McTroll of the Opinion-Out-Of-Your-Ass clan, would like to elaborate on that? Specifically, please provide the definition of "philiosophical" you're using and explain it as necessary.

      (Note: smugly quoting a dictionary will instantaneously close this conversation.)
  • daxsymbiont, on 02/08/2008, -3/+6philosophy starts from trivial concepts, axioms, like a scientific discipline (though philosophy is the equivalent of a scientific discipline having almost each if its scientists making their own school of thought with new axioms). such axioms are usually not hard to grasp.

    it's really not a discipline hard to grasp. i was reading Plato from 14.
  • Sengara, on 02/08/2008, -0/+9From the mist came clarity.
    • LokitheComplex, on 02/08/2008, -0/+6Is that a quote?
      • adooga, on 02/08/2008, -0/+8"From the mist came clarity" (Sengara, 2008)
        That is.
        • HueytheFreeman, on 02/08/2008, -2/+4"'From the mist came clarity' (Sengara, 2008)
          That is." (adooga, 2008)
        • bosssmiley, on 02/08/2008, -1/+1ibid.
  • mikezerobot, on 02/08/2008, -1/+12Great concept, but the questions need some work. "Why does the music sing so nicely? Why do people shout when they go outside? Why are there so many answers to God's questions?" Give me a ***** break, and give the youngsters a bit more credit.
    • Parkinsons, on 02/09/2008, -0/+3I think I must be dumb, because I don't know the answer to the first one.
  • BinkyStuttocks, on 02/08/2008, -0/+13I remember tackling the important questions when I was five, such as "Are cooties real?"
    • AntzNZ, on 02/08/2008, -0/+7That's seriously more important than asking yourself why people shout when they go outside.
  • zsmith, on 02/08/2008, -0/+14Many adults don't even ask these type of questions. I like it, nothing wrong with encouraging youngsters to think. Philosophy is great. But then again I went to college and majored in it so maybe I am biased.
    • Leomarth, on 02/08/2008, -0/+9Naw! I majored in electronics engineering and I agree. Philosophy is great!
  • j2002, on 02/08/2008, -1/+14This is brilliant - Finally news about our education system that isn't totally depressing!
  • LokitheComplex, on 02/08/2008, -1/+14Philosophy feels like the most important thing in life.
    • norbiu, on 02/08/2008, -1/+11After pondering upon your statement, I must say that I concur!
  • jambox, on 02/08/2008, -0/+9Yes! I've been saying they should be doing this sort of thing for kids for ages. I don't know whether this really counts as philosophy, but it's about learning how to discuss things and take an interest in different subjects.
    This country (UK) is heading for a massive wall because most young people don't want to know about science or engineering any more, just booze and celebrity gossip.
    God, I'm getting old!
  • withoutamartyr, on 02/08/2008, -3/+1I don't know. Kids this young trying to wrap their minds around life's greatest mysteries?
    • Leomarth, on 02/08/2008, -0/+8I'm sure the point is more beginning to teach them how to think instead of driving them to total comprehension.
    • mrsdz50, on 02/08/2008, -0/+1I think it giving them permission to think about the great mysteries. Hopefully, it is also giving them the tools to learn how to learn and explore those ideas. Check out "classical" education. This is a type of education that is based on the grammar, logic and rhetoric of any subject. It is a philosophy of learning that goes back to the ancients and it is also a method of learning - our brain works this way.
    • NichowA, on 02/08/2008, -0/+1Kids already try to wrap their minds around life's greatest mysteries. Spend some time with a young child sometime and you will be amazed by the questions they ask, and the answers they give.The untainted, unmanipulated mind of a child is an absolute beauty to behold.
  • justok, on 02/08/2008, -3/+6I think therefore STOP LOOKING AT ME!!!!! TEACHER!!!!! Rene is bothering me!!!!!!
  • Indie, on 02/08/2008, -10/+10Don't know why we'd wanna teach this to children,

    To Quote Franki Boyle teaching children this will only result in this Scenario

    Teacher: "Who wants to do some finger painting?"
    Child: "Finger painting?!?!? I might not even exist!"
    • AntzNZ, on 02/08/2008, -2/+2I don't get it.
    • brentinkc, on 02/08/2008, -0/+2I don't know why they're digging you down, I laughed at that.
  • assaults, on 02/08/2008, -0/+10Children are so intuitive and bright and always have been. I'm glad adults are finally listening to them and giving them the head start they need.
    • brentinkc, on 02/08/2008, -0/+3Agreed. I was explaining the concept of the Presidency to my 4 yr old daughter the other day, which inevitably lead to a discussion about our current President. I told her that he was kind of a bad man and did a lot of mean things to a lot of people. Her response?
      "Well, I will go there and be nice to him, and then he will be happy and be nice to everyone else."
      The wisdom of a four year old...
      • solid12345, on 02/08/2008, -1/+3Good thing your daughter is only 4 or else you would have had to teach her about oral sex under Clinton.
  • girlpirate, on 02/08/2008, -0/+6wow. a school that actually teaches children to...think? that is impressive. wish they'd try some of that over on this side of the pond.
    • Parkinsons, on 02/09/2008, -0/+1I think what is truly impressive is that this school is not full of teachers but guides, they are allowing the kids to figure out the answers for themselves.
  • Leomarth, on 02/08/2008, -0/+4I'd love more of this to come around. Teach them how to think. Hardly anybody ever wants to actually *teach* their children how to think anymore. Instead they take the cop-out of "I'll show them by example." but that doesn't work either because a lot of parents never think about what they're showing either.

    Plus thinking isn't too popular today. Especially when compared to more 'practical' things like sports, drinking, chasing skirts and 'faith'.
    • NichowA, on 02/08/2008, -0/+0Hey now, I'm an enthusiastic student of philosophy and still enjoy the first three things on your list. Faith not so much though. But yeah, the first three... good stuff.
  • ThunderPigs, on 02/08/2008, -0/+5To reinforce the ability of critically thinking at such a young brings me hope for the future of mankind. There isn't much else in this world that needs to be taught other than the skill of thinking for one's self independently from others. With the american system, I was able to get through high school without really ever having to try at all.
  • WarWraith, on 02/08/2008, -9/+2Why can't kids just be kids? Teach them to grapple with life's big issues? That's just screwed up. They get such a small amount of life where they don't need to be worried about the big questions, and some smart-arsed ***** want them to grapple with "life's big questions"... it's just cruel.
  • demonsnake69, on 02/08/2008, -17/+3Philosophy is ***** retarded and useless to learn -- why not teach five-year-olds something they can actually use.
    • PTCHFRKR, on 02/08/2008, -1/+7That's pretty impressively ignorant.
    • adooga, on 02/08/2008, -1/+7Yeah, like the pledge of allegiance. And marching.
    • Azerael, on 02/08/2008, -0/+5Stocking shelves?
    • iamdecal, on 02/08/2008, -0/+5did you actually READ the article? you might learn something your self (im assuming you're not a five year old yourself, but its very hard to tell from your comment)

      giveng some one an understanding of how to ask and answer and argue their views without resorting to anger is a much under rated part of growing up IMO

    • ianam, on 02/08/2008, -1/+1What's ***** retarded is you.
    • NichowA, on 02/08/2008, -0/+0The troll-fu is strong with this one.
  • tehxen3, on 02/08/2008, -2/+3Thinking is bad... mmkay.
  • blast_flame, on 02/08/2008, -0/+4Seems very good but for some reason I can not shake the feeling that the why do people treat animals like slaves question is an attempt to turn them all into annoying animal rights activists...
    • worthone, on 02/08/2008, -0/+3I suppose it seems so, but if they merely ask this question from the children and they make their own decision about it, I guess it seems fair enough even if they turn into annoying animal rights activists.
      • blast_flame, on 02/08/2008, -0/+3The problem is that children around that age are inundated with fiction where animals are intelligent, rational, talking beings and some might have difficultly understanding that animals may not have the same level of cognition as us.
    • NichowA, on 02/08/2008, -0/+0When I ask myself that question, I come to the conclusion that we treat them like slaves because we are smarter, more capable, and higher on the food chain.

      Then I eat a steak.
  • tuckergrhm, on 02/08/2008, -0/+2I think someone needs to write a book of the children's responses to these lessons.
  • DeFex, on 02/08/2008, -1/+2as if the anti virus that comes pre loaded (norton etc) wasn't bloated and crappy enough.

  • fugazied, on 02/08/2008, -3/+7Philosophy can be a pretty dangerous thing, once you start questioning the very foundation of rational thought prcesses which dictate how our society works it can be daunting. Getting kids thinking is great but I just hope they start with the easy stuff and leave existentialism till they are a bit older. Some of those ideas are pretty heavy and kids should have the opportunity to be kids, without too many concerns and not pondering their existence at 8 or 10 years of age.
    • 3tcp, on 02/08/2008, -1/+1Philosophy is dangerous? You take yourself way too seriously.
    • mutiger, on 02/08/2008, -1/+2Existentialism is too heavy? Are you suggesting parents rear their kids with a god-belief? o_o
      • NichowA, on 02/08/2008, -0/+2Read some Kierkegaard and Hegel and then come back and tell me that existentialism is light reading.

        I'm sure they aren't doing that though with these kids. Leave the questions about the despair and depravity of life until at least high school.
    • ryan83189, on 02/08/2008, -1/+1Tell your kid "I think therefore I am" it will make them ***** crazy for the rest of their lives.
  • 3tcp, on 02/08/2008, -6/+1Christ, lame ass questions like those are why there's so many idiots in this country. They're rewarded for sitting around and contemplating 'If life is a puzzle what happens when you lose a corner?' and 'If a human being is like a car which part would the soul be? If an animal was a car would they have that part too? Is a car still a car even if it doesn't drive? What if it rides instead of drives?'
    • 3tcp, on 02/08/2008, -2/+1Oops, I missed the in England part. I guess it's a western cultural issue.
    • mashw, on 02/08/2008, -0/+4Well, as a student of philosophy I could either strip apart your argument and show you the various flaws and assumptions, and give several counter-examples that lead to a water tight conclusion, or I can tell you that you're wrong; it's obvious you don't actually know what philosophy is; and tell you to ***** off. I'm going with the latter, bye.
      • zarathustra0, on 02/08/2008, -0/+13tcp might not know what your professor calls 'philosophy,' but I think in his comment he's adopted a very consistent philosophy! That is, avoid abstract reasoning and focus on practical reasoning.

        mashw, some people DO present a "water tight" version of this epistemological evaluation, and I think we can all benefit from the idea that: action is just as important (or more important, as 3tcp claims) than intrinsic features of the mind.
  • lonergothonline, on 02/08/2008, -1/+1yay its making my classmates think! something I've been waiting for for a year!
  • mutiger, on 02/08/2008, -1/+2If it's true (Daily Mail, heh), then WIN.
  • surreal1111, on 02/08/2008, -1/+1those kids are not five.. more like 12
  • dark1587, on 02/08/2008, -0/+2This is a really good idea. When I was in 3rd grade I was being taught about Tessellation, mythology, and how to do research projects (amongst other things). Why not add Philosophy?
  • Evolutuon, on 02/08/2008, -0/+4All schools should incorporate philosophy, there would be a better turn out of free thinkers in this world.
  • jameshighmore, on 02/08/2008, -0/+4Why.
  • dikwad, on 02/08/2008, -1/+2was there really a need for the 'FIVE' in capitals ?
    • floatingpoints, on 02/08/2008, -0/+1I know, coulda been simply, "5".
  • yaosio, on 02/08/2008, -0/+1This should be easy for 5 year olds because they are very good at making things up and claiming it's the truth.
  • floatingpoints, on 02/08/2008, -1/+1Waste of time.

    1. They'll stare at you wondering what the ***** you're even talking about. Imagine if someone who knew about particle physics came up to you asking about one of physics unsolved issues. You wouldn't know WTF either.

    2. They usually giggle and think you're messing with them. They'll retort with equivalent gibberish.
    • PoeticExplosion, on 02/08/2008, -0/+2Did you read the article? They are asking very age-appropriate questions. I don't know why people have this knee-jerk fear of philosophy.
  • markgl, on 02/08/2008, -0/+1This is like the principal from Uncle Buck that said his niece was a daydreamer.

    Uncle Buck: She only 5.
    Principal: That's no excuse!
  • kernel16, on 02/08/2008, -0/+1This reeks of failure in the near future.
    • MentalHazard, on 03/10/2008, -0/+0Yes, kernel, everything will fail in the end. Why, the Earth might just stop spinning!
  • diggdiggerid, on 02/08/2008, -0/+1sesame street is the existential dilemma
  • moontime, on 02/08/2008, -0/+3Its great to get them thinking but I have to wonder if the teachers guide them in some way when it comes to the answers. do the teachers make them think one philosophy is better than another? For instance the question "Why do we treat animals as slaves?" Christians would say that God gave us dominion over the earth and all its creatures so we have a right to do that. New age gaia worshippers would say because humans are a virus on the earth and need to be killed off so the animals can be free. People who believe in evolution might say, because we evolved more than they did, therefore we can rule over them. My personal answer is, because some people are assholes. But my point is, which answer is right, is there a correct answer and even so, in which direction do they steer the children?
    • PoeticExplosion, on 02/08/2008, -0/+2If they are doing it right, then they wouldn't steer them in any direction. The point is to get them thinking and discussing.
  • gemmakicn, on 02/08/2008, -1/+4I see no reason why you shouldn't teach critical thinking and philosophy to young children, its been lacking in most people's education for way too long. Maybe they'll grow up a little more cynical of government, business and organized religion :)
    • Suricou, on 02/08/2008, -0/+2Because the parents, while initially very supportive of critical thinking, will change their minds as soon as they are the ones being thought of critically.
  • thscientist1, on 02/08/2008, -0/+2my cousin has been taking philosophy for two years now, hes currently 7. the course basicly states: give me an example of what is real and what isnt real. it has just started moving into more advanced stuff, such as "what is a park"
  • carbonetc, on 02/08/2008, -0/+1I wish I'd had this.
  • clander, on 02/08/2008, -0/+2We need to make sure that our schools nurture our Gifted Children, if we don't train them, we might lose the next generation of kids who travel to Europe in their 20s or go to rehab.
    This explains more:
    http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/01/ ...
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