Philosophical Inquiry: Combining the Tools of Philosophy with Inquiry-Based Teaching and Learning - Paperback

by Philip Cam (Author)

Philosophical Inquiry shows how to use the tools of philosophy for educational purposes. It is a practical guide to the philosophical arts of questioning, conceptual exploration and reasoning, with wide application across the school curriculum. It provides educators with an effective means of teaching students to think critically and creatively, to use their knowledge to solve problems, to deal with issues, to explore possibilities and work with ideas. These are the skills and abilities that young people need in order to thrive socially and economically in the world today.

Drawing on educational and psychological theory, Philosophical Inquiry emphasizes the use of collaborative learning, through class discussion, working with a partner, and small group work. This approach teaches students to think in socially responsible ways. It means that students become not only thinking individuals but also good team-players, with benefits that extend beyond the classroom and the school to community life and the world of work.

Author Biography

Dr. Philip Cam is an international authority on philosophy in schools, who has run workshops for educators in many countries, and whose books for teachers and children have been widely translated. He has a DPhil in Philosophy from the University of Oxford and has had a long university career in Australia.