Royal Institute of Philosophy Public Lecture
St Mary’s University College, Philosophy Department

What can university philosophy learn from primary philosophy?

Peter Worley MA FRSA, Chief Executive Officer, The Philosophy Shop

 

 

Wednesday, 21st September 2011
5.15pm - 6.45pm, followed by a drinks reception
Waldegrave Drawing Room, St Mary’s University College, Twickenham

 

Abstract: 

 

Peter Worley will clarify some key differences between approaches to doing philosophy with children and explain his own work. He will briefly answer the question ‘can children do philosophy?’ but will then turn to the question of whether philosophy at tertiary level can learn anything from philosophy at primary level. He will look at the presentation of information, the role of dialogue, assessment and teaching. 
 
About the Speaker:

 

Peter has been working with children in education since 1993 and has been doing philosophy with children since 2002. Peter developed the method of Philosophical Enquiry (PhiE) that is at the heart of The Philosophy Shop's work. As CEO he represents the charity worldwide, trains specialists and teachers, and heads the Senior Leadership Team. He has published in many magazines and philosophical journals and is a regular contributor to Teach Primary Magazine. His book, The If Machine: Philosophical Enquiry in the Classroom has been called 'The best book of its kind currently available' (Michael Hand) and is a collection of philosophically-inspired stories and thought experiments for children, and teaching thinking strategies for teachers. Peter has been interviewed on the BBC World Service and on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme with A.C. Grayling about philosophy in schools. 

http://www.thephilosophyshop.co.uk/

 

Registration

All lectures are free and open to the public without registration. Lectures start at 5:15 and last for 50 minutes, with 40 minutes for questions. This is then followed by a wine reception.
 
Venue

Senior Common Room, St Mary’s University College, Waldegrave Road, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, TW1 4SX, UK.
Directions to the university: http://www.smuc.ac.uk/contact/directions.htm

For further information, please contact Dr Yasemin J. Erden: [log in to unmask]

Posters:

 

Posters for your notice board can be downloaded here: http://www.smuc.ac.uk/news/events.htm

Please note that there are currently two posters available to download. One is an advert for the first lecture only, while the other has details of the full lecture series.
 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Lecture Series
 
Knowledge, Wisdom and the University
 
Series abstract

Universities in Britain - as well as in other Western countries - are facing an uncertain future. In response to significant cuts in public funding, drastic changes are being proposed and already a number of (philosophy) departments are being threatened with closure. It is, so the argument goes, no longer possible to afford studies which are seen as luxuries. In such discussions the idea of a university is rarely mentioned, let alone the place of philosophy in universities.

Speakers

Our series invites speakers from a range of disciplines to address this oversight. Specifically, we ask them to reflect on concepts of knowledge and wisdom, and their place in modern universities. All talks are appropriate for a non-specialised audience.

Programme

21st September
Mr Peter Worley (The Philosophy Shop)
What can university philosophy learn from primary philosophy?

5th October
Prof Murray Shanahan (Imperial College, London)
Animal minds and robot minds

30th November
Dr Phil Hutchinson (Manchester Metropolitan University)

What has philosophy ever done for us?

***Winter break***

1st February
Prof Luciano Floridi (University of Hertfordshire / University of Oxford) 
What is a philosophical question?

29th February
Dr Beverley Clack (Oxford Brookes University)
Loss and the struggle for meaning

28th March
Dr Cecile Hatier (University of Wolverhampton)
The morality of university decision-makers

18th April: TBC

A poster advertising the full series of lectures can be downloaded here: http://www.smuc.ac.uk/news/events.htm


--
Dr Yasemin J. Erden
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Centre for Bioethics & Emerging Technologies
St Mary's University College
Waldegrave Road
Twickenham, TW1 4SX
United Kingdom

+44 208 240 4250
www.smuc.ac.uk/cbet