Philosothon Explained

A Philosothon is an annual competition wherein students explore philosophical and ethical issues. Philosothons are held annually in all Australian states, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.[1] [2] [3]

At a Philosothon, school-aged students are assessed by university-based professional philosophers and receive scores based on rigour and clarity of thought. A central component of a Philosothon is the pedagogical model for teaching Philosophy to young people called Community of inquiry. The event has grown alongside and within the Philosophy for Children movement.The first Australasian Philosothon was held at Cranbrook School, Sydney in 2011[4] [5] and the first British Philosothon was held in 2012 at King's College, Taunton.

History

In 2007, Hale School in Perth, Western Australia initiated a project to promote higher-order thinking among secondary school students. The Head of Philosophy and Ethics, Mr. Matthew Wills, created the event to promote student engagement in the study of Philosophy. At the first Philosothon, nine local high school teams, each comprising five students, came together for an evening of philosophical investigation. The word 'Philosothon' was invented in the first few years of the event by Matthew Wills and Leanne Rucks.[6] [7]

Recent history

Following the first Philosothon, the event began being promoted more broadly to other schools around the country and later in the UK. Philosothons now take place annually in each Australian capital city and in regional locations around Australia and New Zealand. Primary school Philosothons have been conducted in various art galleries in some Australian states and in the UK.[8] [9] Philosothons have been established in regional cities throughout Australia and New Zealand. A similar growth has been spearheaded by Academy Conferences in the UK, where various regional hubs are emerging, such as Stowe.[10] [11] [12]

In 2017 The Templeton Religion Trust awarded $281,656 AUD to the Philosothon project in order to "grow existing Philosothons and support the establishment of new ones, particularly in remote schools and at schools catering for students from low socio-economic backgrounds" in Australasia.[13] Similar funding was awarded to the Ian Ramsey Centre at Oxford University to expand the UK Philosothon initiative in 2019.[14] The Philosothons also take place around the UK with introductory presentations given to teachers at Academy Conferences multiple times each year.[15] [16] [17] More recently, the University of Western Australia was awarded a grant from the Templeton Religion Trust to focus on developing Philosothons in remote and regional parts of Australia and New Zealand.[18] Matthew Wills was appointed the Project Manager.[19] As part of the expansion of Philosothons in the UK, there have been introductory presentations to teachers explaining the concept of Philosothons at more than 15 Academy Conferences events, as well as ISRSA and NATRE conferences.[20] These presentations have been accompanied by associated outreach work, including the development of a website and distribution of more than 500 flash drives with introductory and administrative material--all funded by the Templeton Religion Trust.[21]

In 2020, the Australasian Association of Philosophy ran the first online Philosothon.[22] With the arrival of the COVID-19 and travel restrictions, the 2020 Australasian Philosothon was held online with twenty-one Australian and New Zealand schools participating.[23] [24]

Rationale and process

The rationale for the Philosothon is based on empirical evidence that teaching children reasoning skills early in life greatly improves other cognitive and academic skills and greatly assists learning in general.[25] Students are given questions and some stimulus reading materials in advance.[26]

Examples of questions from recent Philosothons include:

Due to COVID restrictions, online Philosothons have been increasing in popularity.[27] Whether online or face-to-face, students, teachers and parents gather on a particular evening each year for the event. The students participate in a series of four philosophical Community of inquiry discussions, which are facilitated by teachers, philosophy students from the local universities, or someone with a PhD. While participating in this process, students are scored by philosophy lecturers, who are often from local universities. The scores are then collated, ranked, and awards are given to students at each age-level. Additionally, the most promising male and female philosopher receive encouragement awards. A trophy is awarded to the winning school.[28]

Australasian Philosothon

In July 2011, the first National Philosothon was held at Cranbrook School. Each Australian state sent three teams (those schools that won in their regional Philosothon), so twelve schools in total arrived in Sydney to participate in the inaugural event.[29] [30] [31] [32] Each year the Australasian Philosothon is run in a different region in Australasia.[33] In 2019, the ninth Australasian Philosothon was held at Radford College in Canberra. In 2020, the Australasian Philosothon was hosted online for the first time by the Australasian Association of Philosophy.[34]

United Kingdom

Philosothons have been running in the UK since 2013. Revd. Mark Smith & Julie Arliss from the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics Department at King's College, Taunton, UK, spearheaded the Philosothon movement in the United Kingdom in collaboration with Dr Michael Lacewing from Heythrop College and Lizzy Lewis from Sapere.[35] Wells Cathedral College won the first event. More recently, Philosothons have spread throughout the UK by being promoted at Academy Conferences events through the UK hub at King's College, Taunton--with more than 375 attendees in the year 2019-2020 (more events were postponed due to COVID-19).[36] [37] Primary School Philosothons have also been hosted by the Philosophy Foundation.[38] Other Philosothons have been held around the UK.[39]

Primary and middle school Philosothons

In 2012, the inaugural Primary School Philosothon was held at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).[40] [41] [42] The following year, the first WA Primary school Philosothon was hosted by John XXIII College at the Art Gallery of WA. Since then, Annual Primary School Philosothons have been conducted in Victoria, WA and the UK.[43]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wills. Matthew. The 2009 Sir Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation Ethics in Leadership Fellowship. Fellowship Report. Winston Churchill Trust. 10 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120402085530/http://www.churchilltrust.com.au/site_media/fellows/Wills_Matthew_2009.pdf. 2 April 2012. dead.
  2. Web site: UK Philosothon website. 6 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151118182130/http://philosothon.co.uk/. 18 November 2015. live.
  3. News: Pritchett. Mark. The Wellington News. 12 March 2017. Wellington Weekly.
  4. News: Saunders. Alan. The Philosophers Zone. 10 January 2012. ABC. https://web.archive.org/web/20120203130731/http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/philosopherszone/philosothon-2011---the-first-australasian-high/2935678. 3 February 2012. live.
  5. Web site: Rocca. Michelle. The Victorian Association for Philosophy in Schools. VAPS. 11 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151116121335/http://vaps.vic.edu.au/events/victorian-secondary-philosothon-16th-september-2015. 16 November 2015. live.
  6. Web site: Philosothon Website. History. Philosothon. 15 May 2017.
  7. Web site: Philosothon Website. History. Philosothon. 10 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20110923001544/http://www.philosothon.org/. 23 September 2011. live.
  8. Web site: Worley . Peter . 22 July 2014 . Philosophy Guide . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20141219063200/http://philosophyfoundation.wordpress.com/2014/07/22/uks-first-primary-philosothon/ . 19 December 2014 . 30 October 2014.
  9. Web site: Etherton. Rosemary. The National Gallery of Victoria. 16 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222144021/https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/2014-victorian-primary-school-philosothon/. 22 December 2015. live.
  10. Web site: Macquarie Port News. 10 December 2018. 3 Jan 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190103110452/https://www.portnews.com.au/story/5801966/hastings-students-ponder-lifes-big-questions/. 3 January 2019. live.
  11. Book: Philosophical Inquiry with Children:The Development of an Inquiring Society ...edited by Gilbert Burgh, Simone Thornton. 7 December 2018. University of Queensland. 9780429777134. 3 Jan 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190103110301/https://books.google.com.au/books?id=JYV7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT248&dq=philosothon&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiFwfmX0dDfAhUCe7wKHWggAe4Q6AEIMTAB#v=onepage&q=philosothon&f=false. 3 January 2019. live.
  12. Web site: Philosothon NSW - Academy Conferences invite you to participate . 2020-07-09 . Philosothon NSW . en-GB.
  13. Web site: W.. Justin. Daily Nous. 21 August 2017. 28 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170829081904/http://dailynous.com/2017/08/21/large-grant-support-pre-college-philosophy-australasia/. 29 August 2017. live.
  14. Web site: Philosothon Expansion in the UK. 2020-07-09. www.ianramseycentre.info. en.
  15. Web site: UK Philosothon. Taunton School UK. 3 January 2019.
  16. Web site: University of Queensland Philosothon. History. University of Queensland. 11 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222091335/http://www.ctp.uq.edu.au/content/qld-state-philosothon. 22 December 2015. live.
  17. Web site: Philosothon UK - Academy Conferences invite you to participate. 2020-07-09. Philosothon UK. en-GB.
  18. Web site: UWA Research List Repository. 2021-03-03. www.research-repository.uwa.edu.au. en.
  19. Web site: TRT Grants List. 2021-03-03. www.templetonreligiontrust.org. en.
  20. Web site: Conference 2019. 2020-07-09. isrsa. en.
  21. Web site: Philosothon Expansion in the UK. 2020-07-09. www.ianramseycentre.info. en.
  22. Web site: Daily Nous Website. History. Philosothon. 4 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210201122929/https://dailynous.com/. 1 February 2021. bot: unknown.
  23. Web site: AAP Philosothon. www.aap.org.au. en.
  24. Web site: AAP Philosothon. philosothon.org/. en.
  25. Web site: Prof Stephan Millett. Dr Alan Tapper &. Educational Philosophy and Theory 'Benefits of Collaborative Philosophical Inquiry in Schools'. 2011. 10 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20140301215644/http://legein.perso.sfr.fr/LPP/Benefits%20of%20Collaborative%20Philosophical%20Inquiry%20in%20Schools.pdf. 1 March 2014. live.
  26. Web site: Philosothon Website. Resources. Philosothon. 10 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20110923001544/http://www.philosothon.org/. 23 September 2011. live.
  27. Web site: Daily Nous Website. History. Philosothon. 4 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210201122929/https://dailynous.com/. 1 February 2021. bot: unknown.
  28. Flood. Gary &. A Marathon for the Mind. The Philosophers' Magazine. 2014. 67. 10–15. 10.5840/tpm201467104. 10 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100500/https://www.pdcnet.org/pdc/bvdb.nsf/purchase?openform&fp=tpm&id=tpm_2014_0067_0010_0015. 4 March 2016. live.
  29. Web site: Australian Association of Philosophy. 10 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20150309152657/http://aap.org.au/event-319903. 9 March 2015. live.
  30. Web site: Dr Poulton. Janette. -Victorian Association for Philosophy in Schools. Victorian Philosothon. VAPS. 10 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20151116121335/http://vaps.vic.edu.au/events/victorian-secondary-philosothon-16th-september-2015. 16 November 2015. live.
  31. Web site: FAPSA. Federal Association for Philosophy in Schools. FAPSA. 10 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120115125154/http://fapsa.org.au/philosothon/. 15 January 2012. live.
  32. Web site: Philosophy Now UK Journal. National Philosothon. Philosophy Now. 1 September 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141123220502/https://philosophynow.org/issues/104/News_September_October_2014. 23 November 2014. live.
  33. Web site: FAPSA. ABC Drive Radio. ABC. 10 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140726212339/http://philosothon.org/2014AustralasianPhilosothon/philosothonstudents.mp3. 26 July 2014. live.
  34. Web site: Daily Nous Website . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210201122929/https://dailynous.com/ . 1 February 2021 . 4 February 2021 . History . Philosothon.
  35. Web site: Philosothon | King's College Taunton . 10 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170821165119/http://www.kings-taunton.co.uk/philosothon/ . 21 August 2017 . live .
  36. News: Smith. Mark. Philosophy Now. 20 March 2020. Wellington Weekly.
  37. Web site: Investor Development Educational Programs . 2020-07-09 . BDC Capital . en-GB.
  38. Web site: Independent Education Today. 10 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150410113446/http://ie-today.co.uk/Article/young_philosophers_have_winning_thoughts. 10 April 2015. live.
  39. News: Davies. Sian. The Southern Daily Echo. 12 March 2017. Wellington Weekly. https://web.archive.org/web/20170911025204/http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11155830.display/. 11 September 2017. live.
  40. Web site: Worley . Peter . 22 July 2014 . Philosophy Foundation . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20141219063200/http://philosophyfoundation.wordpress.com/2014/07/22/uks-first-primary-philosothon/ . 19 December 2014 . 30 October 2014.
  41. Web site: Etherton. Rosemary. The National Gallery of Victoria. 16 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222144021/https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/2014-victorian-primary-school-philosothon/. 22 December 2015. live.
  42. Web site: Dr D'Olympio. Laura. The Conversation. 11 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222114656/http://theconversation.com/philosophy-in-schools-promoting-critical-creative-and-caring-thinking-44578. 22 December 2015. live.
  43. Web site: Philosophy Foundation Website. 22 July 2014 . 10 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20141219063200/http://philosophyfoundation.wordpress.com/2014/07/22/uks-first-primary-philosothon/. 19 December 2014. live.

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