Elemental philosophy, on teaching philosophy to kids, from protophilosophy upwards
Philosophy 101 reminds us that Thales believed the arge was water, Heraclitus believed it was fire, Anaximenes believed it was air, no one believed it was earth but the Parmenidian weltanschaung (forgive me if I mispelled it) could fit earth as Parmenides' arge, Empedocles believed air, water, fire and earth were the four building elements of reality... Some say it was Xenophanes who blieved it was earth... I've done the stretch to assign philosophers to wood and metal (oriental substitutes for air) but I am having trouble summarizing Anaximenes as a philosopher whose school of thought was worthwhile, ditto for Thales, I will be working on using elemental superheroes to teach ancient philosophy but I am far away from my university's books and hoped I could get assistance from people that have studied philosophy, even better if unlike me they did graduate from it. I am facing Anaximenes and Thales as the greatest challenges, as well as Empedocles, the value of Parmenides and Hraclitus is just too obvious to miss. So just to begin, what about Anaximenes and Thales would you teach to kids? and how? (by the way, hi, I am new to these forums as you may have noticed, I googled for philosophy forums and found this and another one whose format reminded me of dragonsfoot where ad&d is discussed so I let my worrying about philosophasters and ventured in with this question, I also abandoned my fears that sharing my project may lead to copycats, after all, its how i handle the project what should make it unique, I had hoped I would find the level and answers I am looking for but the discussions over there were low brow and even the mods trolled, so I am having greater hopes for this site since it can't be as bad as that one).
Comments (16)
It is interesting meeting a teacher who teaches philosophy to Kids. I guess it is a complex challenge but beautiful. I think the best way of teaching Thales and Anaximenes is through some pictures of what each philosopher established in the Ancient Greece.
For example, if I think about Thales I will show a huge ocean and explain with metaphors or basic words to make understand them why Thales thought water is the beginning
If we are speaking about Anaximenes I will put a picture of an island in the far away. Why? Because that's represents air. The horizon. Distance between us and the unknown. This is why air is so important to us. Also as Anaximenes defended we cannot live without it. So you can put the example of just breathing.
These are random ideas but I guess the point is trying to teach philosophy to Kids through pictures and visual examples.
They are important because Thales and Anaximenes were the first thinkers of our era or occidental thought. Philosophy was born in Greece because they did not have a clear religion so they were dree to debate or think of everything. This base is so important to evolve as a human. They posted the bases of how to develop our human knowledge. It is true that probably their criteria looks like so simple but it is still important. When Thales said the beginning was water or Anaximenes was air they are not wrong at all... We can't life without those. Water and air (oxygen) is important. This is the reason why they started a fundamental theory: Believe in power of knowledge and explain what is around us instead of myths or "God"
Yes. It is one of the hardest universities in Spain. Their content has a lot of quality related to scientific research so the reputation is good.
My mum did the PhD in Criminal law there and I remember it was full of clever people and the process was very tough.
True they do not have "clases presenciales" because supposedly it is made for someone who is working and wants to study at the same time. I think it is a good criteria to help those who can't go to class
Yes. They accept international students. But if you are from Anglo-Saxon country I guess you have to present some "papers". For example, if you passed high school, the marks, criteria of the quality etc... All that documentation stuff (I was being asked for this stuff back in the day too)
Well you are free to send a message if you want here: [email protected]
Also the official page: https://www.uned.es/universidad/inicio.html
Entonces no tendrás problemas en absoluto.
I guess you will not have any kind of problems.
Un gran saludo a Perú desde Madrid.
If everybody should be a philosophy-sovereign......how could it be taught? That which is taught is philosophizing by one to the receptivity of another; that which makes one sovereign belongs to him alone and therefore never is passed to him, but originates in him.
Quoting DeGregePorcus
Whatever they are capable of understanding. Whatever that is won’t make them philosopher-sovereign, but only give historical background. Such instruction could still serve as ground for it.
For what it’s worth.....