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In this essay, I show the problems with Plato’s assertion that philosophy is not a subject that should be taught to children. I argue that philosophy is a subject essential to children’s educations because it helps them learn to think for themselves. I outline how I have used children’s picture books as stimuli for philosophical discussions and how insightful children have been about the issues raised in the books. I briefly discuss the college course I developed in which my students teach philosophy to second graders. I point out how children’s picture books raise deep philosophical issues and assist children in thinking about them. My anti-Platonic reflections show that children are indeed natural-born philosophers who deserve the opportunity to discuss philosophical issues under the watchful eyes of caring adults.

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Does Teaching Children Philosophy Educate Them? Some Anti-Platonic Reflections on Doing Philosophy with Young People

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Thomas E. Wartenberg

摘要

In this essay, I show the problems with Plato’s assertion that philosophy is not a subject that should be taught to children. I argue that philosophy is a subject essential to children’s educations because it helps them learn to think for themselves. I outline how I have used children’s picture books as stimuli for philosophical discussions and how insightful children have been about the issues raised in the books. I briefly discuss the college course I developed in which my students teach philosophy to second graders. I point out how children’s picture books raise deep philosophical issues and assist children in thinking about them. My anti-Platonic reflections show that children are indeed natural-born philosophers who deserve the opportunity to discuss philosophical issues under the watchful eyes of caring adults.