Philosophy focuses on clarifying and understanding what is of universal importance in human thinking.
Philosophy connects with the five key competencies through learning activities that engage, encourage, challenge, and motivate students. Teacher actions will foster student inquiry, discussion, understanding, active participation, and reflection.
Philosophy specialises in critical thinking. It explicitly describes, employs, and evaluates thinking processes by careful attention to the structure of arguments and the rigour of discussion. These skills can be applied across all disciplines and situations.
Philosophy engages students in problem solving, creating knowledge, reflecting on their own learning, drawing on personal knowledge and intuitions, asking questions, and challenging the basis of assumptions and perceptions.
Philosophy extends students’ thinking by connecting them with a rich source of philosophical ideas from many times and cultures.
Philosophy provides students with the impetus to develop clear and precise use of their language.
Philosophical argument is based on the effective use of language and other symbolic systems. Philosophy reflects on the representational powers of language and other symbolic systems. It asks questions like ‘What are the limits of language?’ and ‘What can you not do with language?’
Philosophy emphasises the close reading and understanding of texts, including, where relevant, texts in te reo and other languages.
Philosophy builds confidence and autonomy in students. Philosophy encourages self-examination and intellectual resilience, enterprise, and resourcefulness.
This competency links closely to strand 4: Applied philosophy.
Much of philosophy relies on collaborating with others, whakawhanaungatanga. Collaboration requires and encourages active listening to the views of others, while recognising and respecting different points of view.
Students and teachers of philosophy aim for open and clear communication conducted in a non-threatening manner. This includes the important skill of graciously offering and receiving criticism of ideas.
Philosophy encourages innovative and creative thinking through working effectively with others.
This competency links closely to strand 1: Inquiry.
Doing philosophy requires participating in and contributing to inquiry. Exploring the ‘big questions’ through on-going inquiry creates further motivation to participate and contribute in the classroom and in the wider community.
This competency links closely to strand 4: Applied philosophy.
Last updated October 24, 2011