Who here thinks PHILOSOPHY (not relgion) should be brought back to the general curriculum of highschool classes?

I do - basic philosophy is an awesome course. My high school never offered it, but I wish they had.

But I guess "being awesome" isn't a good enough benefit to warrant a new high school course. We'd better think of some real, tangible benefits to the class other than just "critical thinking skills".

Do I hint a tad bit of sarcasm?

Haha from me?! I, sir, don't even know the word.

I do, the bigger picture has been minimalized in todays culture.

That would entirely go against what school is for. Your public education is designed to teach you WHAT to think not HOW to think. You are fed information, and if you successfully regurgitate it then you're a good student. There's no place in this country for people who are capable of critical thinking.

I guess you need to check out the definition of philosophy. Public education attempts to teach you knowledge not what to think. Philosophy challenges your knowledge and how it can effect others around you.

I know what philosophy means. You pretty much repeated exactly what I said to prove what I said was wrong.

My point was that schools don't teach you what to think, that's all


No critical thinkers needed in the country, maybe that's whats wrong?

Ok, now I'm sure I detect sarcasm

On that same note, I'm all for teaching critical thinking. But I fear that a class in philosophy, at least at the high school level, would devolve into a memorization of the names and dates of famous philosophers and their writings, not an actual understanding of philosophy itself.

Good idea...always nice to expand one's mind with a new way to think!

You man like high school level psychology?

Persoanlly, I think it would be a reat idea. If only we could teach our kids toaccept the fact thatthere is more than one way to think a buot something, and that that doesnt neccesarilly mean one way is right and the other is wrong, then we would be one step closer to having peace.

Well, personally, if I were making the list of what should be taught in high school, I would put psychology below astrology and voodoo. But that's just my opinion.

philosophy is only religion in disguise

I took an intro to philosophy class in college. I don't see the need in high school, though.

I totally and completely disagree. Maybe that was what your school experience was like, but my high school actually prepared me for college. College enhanced and honed my ability to think critically and to apply knowledge.

I'm very sorry your school system embittered you.

I took Philosophy in college and enjoyed it immensely. My instructor even found amusement in my choice of paper topics, Justine: Philosophy of the Bedroom....

lol, would you happen to have a copy of that particular paper hun?:bigsmile

I think that philosophy and logic should both be taught at the high school level. I also think religion should be taught in high school, but it should be multiple religions and the history behind them. Historically speaking teaching people the similarities between different types of religions could help end religious persecution. Knowing the history of religion can also keep us from repeating the mistakes that people have made in the past.

I realize that this is a very old post Sky. Just the same I'd like to chime in with a similar sentiment.

I would much rather see classes in pure logic than in philosophy. Because like you say, philosophy would just turn into a rehash of the opinions of famous philosophers.

I feel that critical thinking is far better taught in terms of pure symbolic logic, mathematics, or even via science.

When I talk with scientists and mathematicians they seem to grasp logical concepts far more easily than when I talk with people who have actually been educated in 'philosophy'. Their notion of logic is often quite warped and highly influenced by ideas (which amount to personal opinions) of many famous philosophers.

Like Funches said:



There is much truth to this. Philosophy students are easily sucked up into a particular 'philosophy' and become 'preachers' of that philosophy, or of a particular style of philosophy.

I know at least one person who claims to be into philosophy and he seems to think that philosophy somehow supports atheism and non-spirituality and constantly argues that any spiritual philosophies are 'illogical'.

If that's not a religious fanaticism in reverse I don't know what is!

Where is Funches anyway? He used to make some really good points.