Pre-College Philosophy (PHIL 592.001)

PHIL 592 is composed of both theoretical and practical, experiential learning components. We will begin with an examination of the central place of the child in the Western philosophical canon. As present in the work of figures ranging from Plato and Aristotle to Rousseau, Kant, and Rawls, the child is discussed as an irrational being, incapable of philosophical engagement. In response to these accounts, we will study the contemporary philosophy for children movement and its vastly different conception of the child. We will consider justifications for doing philosophy with children and, in turn, will learn pedagogical strategies for introducing philosophy to young students. Throughout the semester, class members will get the opportunity to work with pre-college students first hand by leading philosophy discussion sessions in local schools.

Permission of the instructor is required to enroll in this course.

This course satisfies the EE general education requirement; it does not satisfy the PH requirement.

Michael Burroughs’s webpage