How might society benefit if children were recognized as independent thinkers, capable of seeing clearly and contributing in valuable ways to our world? How would children's lives change if what they said was not often ignored or patronized? In the United States and around the world, ageism remains a widespread prejudice, leading us to make assumptions about, dismiss, and underestimate the perspectives of people of particular ages, including children. Before they utter a word, their voices are judged as less important than those of adults, or as not important at all. In a series of conversations with children about many of life's important philosophical questions, Seen and Not Heardreveals children as perceptive and original thinkers. Guided by discussions about the meaning of childhood, friendship, justice and fairness, happiness, and death, the book invites us to rethink our beliefs about children and become more receptive to the ways we can learn from the children in our lives.
Jana Mohr Lone has spent 25 years talking with children about their questions and ideas. She is the director of the Center for Philosophy for Children and Affiliate Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Washington, and author of The Philosophical Child, which has been translated into four languages, co-author of Philosophy in Education: Questioning and Dialogue in Schools, and co-editor of Philosophy and Education: Introducing Philosophy to Young People.
Introduction 1. Not Heard 2. Childhood 3. Friendship 4. Political Voices 5. Happiness 6. Death 7. Listening
"Seen and Not Heard: the voices of children is a wonderful exploration of how conversations with children can be philosophical, thoughtful and thought-provoking and an opportunity for genuine dialogue. Jana Mohr Lone convincingly demonstrates that young voices are worth attending to, by drawing upon works of literature, philosophical texts, and real conversations she has had with young thinkers. Beautifully written and lucidly argued, this book will be enjoyed by all." -- Laura D'Olimpio, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy of Education at the University of Birmingham, England "You will want to listen to the children in your life once you read Seen and Not Heard. Conversant in the latest philosophical, psychological, and sociological research on childhood, Jana Mohr Lone has written a book that is inviting, intimate, and readable. She weaves an impressionistic account of children's thoughts on friendship, happiness, fairness and death with considerations of these philosophical topics in literature, history, and culture." -- Megan Laverty, Associate Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University "Not since Gareth Matthews has a philosopher provided so direct and lucid an account of children's philosophical thinking on topics so central to human experience-and of why their thinking should matter to the rest of us." -- Maughn Gregory, Professor of Educational Foundations, Philosophy for Children Program, Montclair University "No one has ever listened more intently to the voices of children than Jana Mohr Lone. Seen and Not Heard will convince anyone who has ever doubted that children are capable of sophisticated and profound thinking, and that all of us have much to learn from listening to them." -- Claudia Mills, University of Colorado, Boulder "Seen and Not Heard is profound, rich, and provocative. It demonstrates that, as much as adults and often more so, children are subtle, complex, and diverse philosophical thinkers. It opens a window to a wide field of children's ideas about being, imagination, friendship, justice, ethics, gender, happiness, death, and much else. A better argument is hard to imagine for the importance of listening to children, for children's own sakes as well as for doing better philosophy." -- John Wall, Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Rutgers University "Seen and Not Heard is a wonderful book because philosopher Jana Mohr Lone listens carefully to children as they discuss some of life's most important experiences---the meaning of friendship, trust, and being oneself or an outsider---that reveal not only themes of timeless importance but often wisdom from their youthful perspectives." -- Charles Johnson, National Book Award winner and author of Middle Passage and The Way of the Writer "A beautiful book about the ways that children think and speak of important matters such as friendship, justice, happiness, childhood, and death. Their words illuminate a text that parents and teachers will treasure all the more in this time of loss and grieving.... A stirring and important book, which should be widely read." -- Jonathan Kozol, National Book Award winner and author of Savage Inequalities, Amazing Grace and many other books on public education
