tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1905686568472747305.post8560563165494818904..comments2024-03-22T06:22:08.010+00:00Comments on Stephen Law: Religion and Philosophy in SchoolsStephen Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02167317543994731177noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1905686568472747305.post-59471886747884766032014-02-01T11:06:13.222+00:002014-02-01T11:06:13.222+00:00Dr Law
I think the "fact" that the beli...Dr Law<br /><br />I think the "fact" that the belief that "political" schools are beyond the pale of both liberal and conservative thinkers in the west is a DANGEROUS position.<br /><br />Such a "belief" leads to a fractric society (as we see in the UK), i.e. there is no cohesion within the community, this leads to a basic political system (akin to anarchy) based on "individualism", i.e. your own moral command:<br /><br />"Thou shalt think critically"<br /><br />That promotes an attitude of one being at odds or at war with the state, in other words one is a pirate.<br /><br />And not of one of individuation.<br /><br />For my own view...I would recommend my children to be exposed to political schooling...It would be a good thing.<br /><br />Philosophy at school is dodgey...can be good if the teacher is good but most likely is very poor...<br /><br />For example on the P4C webpage...much is made of an incident where the children after discussing what is light...come up with the idea...<br /><br />"Is light the absence of darkenss or is darkness is the absence of light?"<br /><br />The P4C team seem to think that this is a rich and thoughtful piece of philosophical insight...when in fact it is pure waffle and confusion...<br /><br />I heard Richard Dawkins describe when questioned: "What would you tell a child if he asked if Father Christmas existed?"<br /><br />He replied..."Well, I wouldn't tell the child that Father Christmase didn't exist...what I would do is tell him...well, let's think about this "critically"...one Father Christmas...and how many chimmenys?"<br /><br />This is supposed to give the child the "right" answer, i.e. what Dawkins thinks on the subject.<br /><br />His response is similar to the "absence of light idea" of the P4C webpage and reveals so many philosophical and scientific confusions...it is quite depressing...<br /><br />P4C is similar to the Liberal-Democrat Party here in the UK...a small clique of lost in the woods thinking...<br /><br />In fact, I would go so far as to say that P4C IS A FORM OF POLITICAL SCHOOLING...but dressed up with the title of "Philosophy"...and is not different at all from a "religious" schooling...<br /><br />Reminds me of Wittgenstein's duck-rabbit picture...the reality of the duck-rabbit picture does not change...BUT, the interpretation of the picture, i.e. now I see a rabbit, now I see a duck does change...Philip Randhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09143527524267821692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1905686568472747305.post-66847258994533055572014-01-29T19:23:19.045+00:002014-01-29T19:23:19.045+00:00
It seems that philosophy A-level is in danger of ...<br />It seems that philosophy A-level is in danger of being dumbed down.<br /><br /><br />http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/29/philosophy-a-level-syllabus-religious-educationAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12975332974283986255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1905686568472747305.post-10652637728368335342014-01-28T19:56:43.195+00:002014-01-28T19:56:43.195+00:00When I was at high school, 1975, in Portugal, phil...When I was at high school, 1975, in Portugal, philosophy, psychology and introduction to politics were compulsory subjects to both strands, science and the humanities. It was taught at the 11th year, which we would call in the UK A levels. This level includes teenagers in the range of 16-17 years old. I think this is the right age to start learning about philosophy since it coincides with a time when kids start asking questions about meaning, existence, and so on. Unfortunately in those days these questions were dealt with in the psychology classes whereas in philosophy we simply learnt about history of philosophy. Although it is important to understand how ideas came about, the critical appraisal of ideas was something that the Portuguese high school system wasn't , and still isn't, prepared to deal with.<br />But I would go beyond high school philosophy. I think that philosophy and critical thinking should be compulsory in HE science courses and in special in the life sciences.<br />Anabelahttp://anabelapinto.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1905686568472747305.post-28480194175781434752014-01-26T17:00:25.192+00:002014-01-26T17:00:25.192+00:00Personally I would love to see philosophy in schoo...Personally I would love to see philosophy in schools since the school system itself relies very heavily on "isolation, control, uncertainty, repetition and emotional manipulation" to ensure that children cooperate with the system. It would be excellent to hear more children being able to ask the question 'So why do we come to school?' and being able to discuss the real answer. Excellent, interesting article, thank you, and it ties in quite nicely with a course on morality that I have just started on Coursera.martinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260048849955077472noreply@blogger.com