Philosophy for Young Thinkers | Dr. Joseph Hester and Dr. Philip Vincent

By Dr. Joseph Hester and Dr. Philip Vincent

This program is being substantiaily revised.

It spans kindergarten through high school and focuses on both critical thinking and the analysis of philosophical moral concepts.

The major thrust of the early childhood section (K-3) is to encourage youngsters to explore fundamental philosophical concepts.

Primary Kindergarten explorations begin with the concept of self—one’s attitudes, beliefs and behaviors About Me—and continues at Level I by discussing the essential aspects of Living Together. At Level II, the child’s Expanding World—family, friends, community and natural environment are in focus. In Level III, But, I’m Different, there is a return to the self with a closer look at individual differences and individual uniqueness.

In Level Four the focus of inquiry is on The Human Community. The problems and dimensions of humans when living in association with one another is studied in 21 lessons. Level Five, The Great Experiment, studies the concepts of democracy. The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States of America are included. Concepts include human rights, equality, freedom, justice and popular sovereignty. The activities of Level Six, The Global Village, foster in the child an awareness of human beings, in all their variance, who live on planet Earth. In the search for global harmony and moral equilibrium, environmental and animal rights issues are included.

The questions found in the study of metaphysics form the framework of Levels 7-9. Human Configurations confronts the nature of the self, including the problems of free-will and human responsibility, and asks these questions: (1) Is man more than a complex machine? (2) Can we draw a distinction between the way things appear and how they really are? (3) When, if ever, is it reasonable to hold individuals responsible for their actions? Beat Him When He Sneezes focuses on values, moral principles and moral decision making. Major questions here are: (1) Who makes moral decisions and how? (2) Who and what should I care about? In the Ninth Level, Wrong Think/Non-Think the student studies the meaning of the assumptions and concept of knowledge. Questions are (1) How can we determine what facts are true? (2) What is real and not real, (3) What can I say I know for sure?

Each level ends with a section on Extensions and Discussion Starters and Suggestions for Further Readings.