A practical guide to facilitating philosophical conversations with groups (especially in schools) based on philosophical and pedagogical principles derived from the ancient Greek philosophers but supported my modern-day research and pedagogical practices. It divides facilitation up into basic, expert and advanced levels, allowing a teacher to get going with some basic moves and principles allowing for development of facilitation over time. As well as being packed with practical strategies, questioning prompts and methods for developing metacognition and critical thinking in pupils, it also has brand new session plans published nowhere else previously.
Peter Worley is the co-CEO and co-founder of the registered charity The Philosophy Foundation. He is also a Visiting Research Associate at King's College London and an author of many books on doing philosophy in schools and questioning in classrooms.
Foreword Preface A little background Acknowledgements Introduction to PhiE Part One: Philosophy and dialectic What is philosophy? Philosophy as conversation The 4 'R's Logos and flux Ambivalence: Two-eyed thinking The reason for reason in philosophy Philo-Sophia and the love of learning And to the children? A word about right and wrong answers in philosophy Dialectic The origins of dialectic Heraclitus The dialectical effect: thinking flows like a river Socrates Plato Aspects of Platonic dialectic Correspondence to PhiE Two dialectics in Plato's Parmenides Aristotle Aristotle and PhiE Community of Enquiry Part Two: Core values of PhiE Ancient core values of PhiE Exploration and discovery Dissent Autonomy Inquiry/Enquiry An open, questioning mind-set Friendship Friendship: xenia and knowing thyself Excellence Excellence and competition: the paradox of Socrates Oracy Oracy: Aoidos Oracy: small 'd' and big 'D' dialectics Part Three: pedagogical principles of PhiE A sensitive method A descriptive approach Philosophical maturity: was Plato wrong? Capability Interest and engagement The need for conditions The conditions Ideal speech situations Classroom culture PhiE begins with intuitions Within and without: is PhiE democratic? Truth and knowledge Ownership Two keystone principles in PhiE: Absence and Open Questioning Mindset Absence and Presence Socrates' midwifery principle From within Open Questioning Mindset Guess what's in my head Problematisation Blocking 'Guess what's in your head' and intentional sensitivity Two aims of PhiE: dialectic and inclusion Socratic irony and questioning mindsets In summary Bibliography About the author
In his important new book, Corrupting Youth, Peter Worley gives a comprehensive account of his PhiE method for practising philosophy for and with children. He traces the method's core ideas back to Ancient Greek philosophy, provides the approach with a systematic theoretical structure and offers a great deal of useful practical guidance with many engaging examples. Clearly written and tightly organised, it is an excellent contribution to the subject, from which both practitioners and theorists will learn a great deal.--Berys Gaut and Morag Gaut, authors, "Philosophy for Young Children: A Practical Guide" With a deep commitment to excellence in philosophical thinking and to valuing young people's thoughts and ideas, Peter Worley presents a method for facilitating philosophical inquiry that is well-defined and rigorous and at the same time fosters collaboration and community. Theoretically rich and filled with practical ideas and techniques, the two-volume Corrupting Youth offers carefully constructed and accessible strategies that will be appreciated by beginning and experienced philosophy instructors alike.--Jana Mohr Lone, director, University of Washington Center for Philosophy for Children Worley understands children and their extraordinary power to think. With these books Worley connects and updates the ancient Socratic Dialogue tradition to our digital present, sharing practical tools to work with children as active participants and build their cognitive confidence to express their thinking, so that no child's thoughts 'may fall to the ground.' Evidence of the fruits of Worley's 20 years of direct work with pupils shines through on every page, bringing Philosophical Enquiry to life. Worley believes all children can achieve great futures and sets us a collective challenge with these books, which we would do well to meet: help children think for themselves, to create themselves and create their best futures.--Brian Grady, Operational Director, Safeguarding, Partnerships and Strategy, Children and Young People, London Borough of Brent Corrupting the Youth is a fresh, dynamic and engaging book, enriched by Peter Worley's experience in schools and enlivened by his great capacity for story-telling. With this two-volume compendium, Worley introduces the foundational principles of Philosophical Enquiry (PhiE): both theoretical (its roots in Ancient Hellenistic philosophy, especially Socrates and Heraclitus) and practical (the skilled facilitation of dialectical philosophical enquiry). Worley has written a book that is erudite, expansive and warmly encouraging. Accessible to philosophers and teachers alike, it contains so much of value, including the four components of philosophizing (responsive, reflective, reasoned and re-evaluative); the Greek concepts of logos and flux; the eight core values of PhiE, especially dissent, oracy, and friendship; and the session plans. Whatever your current approach to pre-college philosophy education, reading this book will only enhance it.--Megan Jane Laverty, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
