Preface:

We sometimes see philosophy as an inaccessible subject and the philosopher a solitary academic musing about abstract concepts from her office chair. However, philosophical thinking lies at the heart of many aspects of human life. Anyone who has pondered over questions regarding goodness, value, personal identity, justice, how to live well, or how to determine the right course of action has thought philosophically. These issues are of great interest and importance not just to adults, but also to children and teenagers. Introducing younger students to philosophical thought consists, in part, of showing them the ways in which they are already thinking philosophically. Equipped with philosophical methods of challenging assumptions, analyzing arguments, making connections, and questioning intuitions will help students to improve their critical thinking skills—skills of central importance in all school subjects. This seminar enabled the teaching of philosophy as self-standing subject, but also a component of curricula in ELA, science, social studies, and mathematics. The questions we raised include: What is truth? What is democracy? What is the nature of freedom? What does it mean to live a good life? What is science? What moral dilemmas do we face in the use of science to improve life and health?