In the 1960s, philosophers Matthew Lipman and Ann Margaret Sharp launched a Philosophy for Children (P4C) movement based on the American Pragmatist philosophy of John Dewey, William James, and Charles Sanders Peirce. From the beginning, Lipman and Sharp shared a goal of using philosophical dialogue to help children become better democratic citizens who can interact with one another on terms of equality while exploring important philosophical themes and ideas. The Lipman-Sharp tradition is alive and well in Columbus, OH, thanks to a collaboration between CEHV, the Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization (PLATO), and Columbus Gifted Academy (CGA). 
 

Over the past year, CEHV Associate Director Aaron Yarmel, Graduate Research Assistants Jamie Herman and Layne Garrelts, and undergraduate students Zoe Lightcap and Allison Saghir have been regularly visiting CGA to facilitate dialogues with 8th grade students, with PLATO providing key logistical support. Thanks to a close working relationship with CGA Interdisciplinary Studies Teacher Sherry Daniel, History Teacher Dave Haskell, and English Teacher Laurel Murphy, the project has continued to evolve in ways that are responsive to the needs and exceptional cognitive abilities of some of Columbus’s most gifted 8th graders.
 

Lesson plans have focused on a variety of topics: abstract thought experiments about split brains and experience machines, philosophical themes inherent in the school curriculum–such as the morality of the Total War approach in Sherman’s March to the Sea, and experiences drawn from the students’ lives (e.g., does being labeled, “gifted,” make one better off or worse off?). No matter the focus of the lesson, however, the purpose is always the same: to push students to be more critical, caring, and creative as they learn about one another, reflect on their own values, and follow important philosophical inquiries wherever they may lead. We look forward to continuing this collaboration in the next school year.