Jump to content

Philosothon

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Sydney59 (talk | contribs) at 06:29, 4 March 2021 (→Recent history). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

A Philosothon is an annual competition wherein students explore philosophical and ethical issues. Philosothons are held in all Australian states, New Zealand, and the UK.[1][2][3]

At a Philosothon, school-aged students are assessed by university-based professional philosophers and score highly where they demonstrate rigour and clarity of thought. An essential component of a Philosothon is the pedagogical model for teaching Philosophy to young people called Community of inquiry. The event has grown alongside and within the Philosophy for Children movement. Annual Philosothons are held throughout Australia, New Zealand and the UK. The first Australasian Philosothon was held at Cranbrook School, Sydney in 2011[4][5] and the first UK Philosothon was held in 2012 at King's College, Taunton.

2007 Hale School Philosothon Winning school students with trophy

History

In 2007, Hale School in Perth, Western Australia initiated a project to promote higher-order thinking among secondary school students. The Head of Philosophy and Ethics Mr Matthew Wills, created the event to promote student engagement in the study of Philosophy. At the first Philosothon nine local high school teams, each including five students came together for an evening of philosophical investigation. The word 'Philosothon' was invented in the first few years of the event by Matthew Wills and Leanne Rucks.[6][7]

Recent history

Following the first Philosothon it was decided to promote the event more broadly to other schools around the country and later in the UK. Philosothons now take place annually in each Australian capital city and in regional locations around Australia and New Zealand. They also take place around the UK and introductory presentations to explain the concept and invite participation are given to teachers at Academy Conferences multiple times each year.[8][9][10] Primary school Philosothons have been conducted in various Art Galleries in some Australian states and in the UK.[11][12] Philosothons have been established in regional cities throughout Australia and New Zealand and a similar growth is spearheaded by Academy Conferences in the UK where various regional hubs are emerging, such as Stowe.[13][14][15]

In 2017 The Templeton Religion Trust awarded $281,656 AUD to the Philosothon project in order to "grow existing Philosothons and support the establishment of new ones, particularly in remote schools and at schools catering for students from low socio-economic backgrounds" in Australasia.[16] Similar funding was awarded to the Ian Ramsey Centre to expand the UK Philosothon initiative in 2019.[17] More recently the University of Western Australia was awarded a grant from the Templeton Religion Trust to continue the Philosothon Project focussing on developing Philosothons in remote and regional parts of Australia and New Zealand. [18] Matthew Wills has been appointed the Project Manager. [19]

As part of the recent expansion of Philosothons in the UK, introductory presentations to teachers have explained the concept at more than 15 Academy Conferences events, as well as ISRSA and NATRE conferences.[20] These presentations have been accompanied by associated outreach work, including the development of a website and more than 500 flash drives so far for distributing introductory and administrative material, generously funded by the Templeton Religion Trust.[21]

A Junior School Philosothon at the Art Gallery of Western Australia

In 2020 the Australasian Association of Philosophy (AAP) ran the first online Philosothon. [22]With the arrival of the Corona Virus and travel restrictions, the 2020 Australasian Philosothon (AAPP) was held online with twenty-one Australian and New Zealand schools participating.[23] [24]

Rationale and process

The rationale for the Philosothon methodology is based on empirical evidence that teaching children reasoning skills early in life greatly improves other cognitive and academic skills and greatly assists learning in general.[25] Students are given the topic questions in advance and some stimulus reading materials.[26]

Examples of topic questions from recent Philosothons are these:

Due to COVID restrictions, online Philsothons have been developed recently.[27] In any case students, teachers and parents gather, either online or face to face on a particular evening each year for the event. The students participate in a series of Philosophical Communities of Inquiry which are facilitated by teachers or Phd. philosophy students from the local universities. While participating in this process students are scored by Philosophy lecturers also from local universities. The scores are then collated, ranked and later awards are given to students at each age level and encouragement awards to the most promising male and female philosopher. Also, a trophy is awarded to the winning school.[28]

Criticisms and responses

Some might argue that Philosophy cannot be undertaken in the context of a competition.[29] They believe that by ranking individuals the process of developing a Community of Philosophical Inquiry is fundamentally compromised. However, others have responded that many students forget they are involved in a competition and engage in the exact sort of investigation and collaboration we would hope to see in Philosophy. Others have suggested that the same process is undertaken in any academic institution, tertiary or secondary where students are ranked against criteria. The only difference is that one of the more important criteria in a COI is collaboration.[30]

Winners of the 2011 Australasian Philosothon Christ Church Grammar School

Australasian Philosothon

In July 2011 the Federation of Australasian Philosophy in Schools Associations (FAPSA) agreed to support the first National Philosothon at Cranbrook School. Each Australian state sent three teams (those schools that won in their regional Philosothon) and so twelve schools in total arrived in Sydney to participate in the inaugural event.[31][32][33] [34] Each year the Australasian Philosothon is run in a different region in Australasia.[35] In 2019 the ninth Australasian Philosothon was held at Radford College in Canberra. In 2020 the Australasian Philosothon was hosted for the first time online by the Australasian Association of Philosophy (AAP) [36]

United Kingdom

Philosothons have been run in the UK since 2013. Revd. Mark Smith & Julie Arliss from the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics Department at King's College, Taunton, UK, have spearheaded the Philosothon movement in the United Kingdom in collaboration with Dr Michael Lacewing from Heythrop College and Lizzy Lewis from Sapere.[37] Wells Cathedral College won the first event. More recently Philosothons have been developed throughout the UK, promoted at Academy Conferences events and spreading from the UK hub at King's College, Taunton; with more than 375 attendees in the year 2019-2020 (more events were postponed due to COVID-19).[38][39] Primary School Philosothons have also been hosted by the Philosophy Foundation.[40] Other Philosothons have been held around the UK.[41]

Primary and Middle School Philosothons

In 2012 an inaugural Primary School Philosothon was held at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).[42][43] [44] In 2013 the first WA Primary school Philosothon was hosted by John XXIII College at the Art Gallery of WA. Since then Annual Primary School Philosothons have been conducted in Victoria, WA and the UK.[45]

List of Philosothons

Australasia

National events

Australasian Philosothons First Second Third Host
2011 Christ Church Grammar School[46] (WA) McKinnon Secondary College (VIC) Perth College (WA) Cranbrook School (NSW)
2012 Hale School (WA) Guildford Grammar School (WA) Bishop Druitt College (NSW) AB Paterson College (QLD)
2013 Raffles Girls' School (Singapore) Wesley College (WA) Ballarat Grammar School (VIC) Ballarat Grammar School (VIC)
2014 North Sydney Girls High School (NSW) Hale School (WA) Ballarat Grammar School (VIC) Hale School (WA)
2015 North Sydney Girls High School (NSW) Scotch College (WA) Hale School (WA) North Sydney Girls High School (NSW)[47]
2016 Scotch College (WA) Hale School (WA) Anglican Church Grammar School (QLD) Anglican Church Grammar School (QLD)
2017 North Sydney Girls High School (NSW) McKinnon Secondary College (VIC) Hale School (WA) St Andrews Cathedral School (NSW)
2018 North Sydney Girls High School (NSW) Seymour College (SA) Scotch College (WA) St Peter's College (SA)
2019 North Sydney Girls High School (NSW) St Andrew's Cathedral School (NSW) Narrabunda College & Telopea Park High School (ACT) Radford College (ACT)
2020 North Sydney Girls High School (NSW) Narrabunda College & Telopea Park High School (ACT) St Andrew's Cathedral School (NSW) Held online

Australian Capital Territory

Australian Capital Territory Philosothon First First Div A First Div B Host
2019 Narrabunda College & Telopea Park High School Canberra Girls Grammar Merici College Radford College

Queensland

Queensland Philosothons First Second Third Host
2010 Anglican Church Grammar School A.B.Paterson College St Laurence's College A.B.Paterson College
2011 Anglican Church Grammar School Bishop Druitt College Palm Beach Currumbin High School A.B.Paterson College
2013 Div A (10-12) Anglican Church Grammar School Brisbane State High School & Kelvin Grove State H.S. St Laurence's College
2013 Div B (7-9) Cavendish Rd State High School Brisbane State High School St Laurence's College
2014 Div A (10-12) Anglican Church Grammar School Brisbane State High School St Laurence's College University of Queensland
2014 Div B (7-9) Anglican Church Grammar School Cavendish Rd SHS St Laurence's College University of Queensland
2015 Div A (10-12) Brisbane State High School Palm Beach Currumbin State High School Anglican Church Grammar School and Kelvin Grove State College University of Queensland
2015 Div B (7-9) Brisbane State High School Kenmore State High School St Laurence's College University of Queensland
2016 Div A (10-12) Palm Beach Currumbin Brisbane Boy's College Marist College Ashgrove University of Queensland
2016 Div B (7-9) Churchie Kenmore SHS Marist College Ashgrove University of Queensland
2017 Div A (10-12) Palm Beach Currumbin Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) Kenmore SHS University of Queensland
2017 Div B (7-9) Hillbrook Anglican School Centenary SHS Marist College Ashgrove University of Queensland
2018 Div A (10-12) Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) Kelvin Grove State High School Palm Beach Currumbin University of Queensland
2018 Div B (7-9) Cavendish Road State High School Pacific Lutheran College Stretton State College University of Queensland
2019 Div A (10-12) Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) Hillbrook Anglican School Palm Beach Currumbin University of Queensland
2019 Div B (7-9) Marist College Ashgrove Cavendish Rd SHS Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) University of Queensland

New South Wales

NSW Philosothons First Second Third Host
2009 Ascham School Cranbrook School Ascham
2010 Sydney Grammar School Ascham Ascham
2011 Sydney Grammar School St Andrew's Cathedral School Ascham
2012 Loreto Kiribilli Sydney Grammar School St Andrew's Cathedral School & Ascham Ascham
2013 North Sydney Girls High School Sydney Grammar School St Andrew's Cathedral School & Sydney Boys High School Ascham
2014 North Sydney Girls High School St Andrew's Cathedral School Monte San't Angelo Mercy College Cranbrook School
2015 S.C.E.G.G.S Darlinghurst Sydney Boys High School Sydney Girls High School Cranbrook School
2016 North Sydney Girls High School Sydney Boys High School St Andrews Cathedral School St Andrews Cathedral School
2017 Sydney Girls High School SCEGGS Darlinghurst Meriden St Andrews Cathedral School
2018 North Sydney Girls High School Meriden St Patricks Strathfield & St Andrews Cathedral School St Andrews Cathedral School
2019 North Sydney Girls High School Sydney Girls High School St Andrews Cathedral School North Sydney Girls High School
Northern NSW Philosothon First First Div A First Div B Host
2012 Bishop Druitt College Alstonville High School Bishop Druitt College
2013 Bishop Druitt College John Paul College Lindisfarne Anglican School Bishop Druitt College
2014 Bishop Druitt College Bellingen High School The Armidale School Bishop Druitt College
2018 MacKillop College, Port Macquarie Bishop Druitt College Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School Bishop Druitt College
2019 MacKillop College, Port Macquarie Bishop Druitt College Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School Bishop Druitt College
Armidale First Second Host
2019 Presbyterian Ladies’ College The Armidale School The Armidale School

South Australia

South Australian Philosothon First First Div A First Div B Host
2017 Seymour College St Peters Girls School St Peter's College Prince Alfred College
2018 St Peters Girls School Seymour College Prince Alfred College Prince Alfred College
2019 St Ignatius College St Peters Girls School Seymour College Prince Alfred College

Victoria

Victorian Philosothons First Second Third Host
2010 St Leonards College King David School McKinnon Secondary College Ballarat Grammar
2011 McKinnon Secondary College King David School Ballarat Grammar School Ballarat Grammar
2012 Ballarat Grammar School McKinnon Secondary College Distance Education Centre of Victoria Ballarat Grammar
2013 Ballarat Grammar School Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne Mill Park Secondary College Ballarat Grammar
2014 Ballarat Grammar School McKinnon Secondary College Star of the Sea College Brighton Ballarat Grammar
2015 Ballarat Grammar School King David School McKinnon Secondary College Ballarat Grammar
2016 McKinnon Secondary College Presbyterian Ladies' College Scotch College, Melbourne Ballarat Grammar
2017 Sandringham College Ballarat Grammar School Upwey High School Ballarat Grammar
2018 Ballarat Grammar School King David School MacRobertson High School Ballarat Grammar
2019 Wesley College Mentone Grammar, Melbourne Loreto College Wesley College

Western Australia

WA Philosothons First Second Third Host
2007 Hale School St Mary's Anglican Girls' School Hale School
2008 Christ Church Grammar School Hale School Perth College Hale School
2009 Wesley College Carmel School Perth Modern School Hale School
2010 Hale School Perth College Christ Church Grammar School Hale School
2011 Hale School Guildford Grammar School Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School Hale School
2012 Carmel School Guildford Grammar School Wesley College Hale School
2013 Iona Presentation College Perth Modern School Methodist Ladies' College Hale School
2014 Scotch College St Hilda's AGS Hale School Hale School
2015 Christ Church Grammar School & Scotch College Hale School, MLC & PLC Perth College
2016 Christ Church Grammar School Willetton Senior High School Hale School Perth College
2017 Scotch College Willeton Senior High School Christchurch Grammar Trinity College
2018 Scotch College Perth College Wesley College Trinity College
2019 Scotch College Christ Church Grammar School St Mark's Anglican Community School Trinity College
2020 Willetton Senior High School Guilford Grammar School Methodist Ladies' College University of Western Australia

South West Western Australia

Southern WA Philosothons First Second Third Host
2014[48] Georgiana Molloy Anglican School Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School Bunbury Catholic College Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School
2015 Margaret River Senior High School Margaret River Senior High School Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School
2016 Margaret River Senior High School Margaret River Senior High School Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School
2017 Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School Gold Geogiana Molloy Anglican School Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School Blue
2018 Bunbury Catholic College Mercy Campus Geogiana Molloy Anglican School Diamonds Geogiana Molloy Anglican School Gold
2019[49] Bunbury Catholic College Mercy Campus Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School Geogiana Molloy Anglican School Georgiana Molloy Anglican School
2020 Our Lady of Mercy College Green Geogiana Molloy Anglican School Gold Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School Gold

New Zealand

New Zealand First Second Host
2018 Hamilton Boys' High School Waikato Diocesan School Waikato Diocesan School
2019 Hamilton Boys' High School Waikato Diocesan School Waikato Diocesan School

United Kingdom

United Kingdom Philosothons First Second Third Host
2014 Wells Cathedral School Bristol Grammar School Monkton Combe School King's College, Taunton
2015 Wells Cathedral School Wellington School Exeter School King's College, Taunton[50]
2016 Wellington School King's College, Taunton Bristol Grammar School King's College, Taunton
2017 Bristol Grammar School Wellington School Exeter School King's College, Taunton[51]
2018 Bristol Grammar School Torquay Girls' Grammar School Taunton School King's College, Taunton
2018 Winchester College Stowe School
2019 Exeter College Bristol Grammar School Torquay Girl's Grammar School King's College, Taunton
2019 Winchester College Latymer Upper School Bristol Grammar School Stowe School

References

  1. ^ Wills, Matthew. "The 2009 Sir Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation Ethics in Leadership Fellowship" (PDF). Fellowship Report. Winston Churchill Trust. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  2. ^ "UK Philosothon website". Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  3. ^ Pritchett, Mark. "The Wellington News". Wellington Weekly. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  4. ^ Saunders, Alan. "The Philosophers Zone". ABC. Archived from the original on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  5. ^ Rocca, Michelle. "The Victorian Association for Philosophy in Schools". VAPS. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  6. ^ "Philosothon Website". History. Philosothon. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Philosothon Website". History. Philosothon. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  8. ^ "UK Philosothon". Taunton School UK. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  9. ^ "University of Queensland Philosothon". History. University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  10. ^ "Philosothon UK - Academy Conferences invite you to participate". Philosothon UK. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  11. ^ Worley, Peter. "Philosophy Foundation". Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  12. ^ Etherton, Rosemary. "The National Gallery of Victoria". Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  13. ^ "Macquarie Port News". Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  14. ^ Philosophical Inquiry with Children:The Development of an Inquiring Society ...edited by Gilbert Burgh, Simone Thornton. University of Queensland. 7 December 2018. ISBN 9780429777134. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  15. ^ "Philosothon UK - Academy Conferences invite you to participate". Philosothon UK. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  16. ^ W., Justin. "Daily Nous". Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  17. ^ "Philosothon Expansion in the UK". www.ianramseycentre.info. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  18. ^ "UWA Research List Repository". www.research-repository.uwa.edu.au. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  19. ^ "TRT Grants List". www.templetonreligiontrust.org. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Conference 2019". isrsa. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Philosothon Expansion in the UK". www.ianramseycentre.info. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  22. ^ "Daily Nous Website". History. Philosothon. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  23. ^ "AAP Philosothon". www.aap.org.au.
  24. ^ "AAP Philosothon". https://philosothon.org/. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  25. ^ Prof Stephan Millett, Dr Alan Tapper & (2011). "Educational Philosophy and Theory 'Benefits of Collaborative Philosophical Inquiry in Schools'" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  26. ^ "Philosothon Website". Resources. Philosothon. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  27. ^ "Daily Nous Website". History. Philosothon. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  28. ^ Flood, Gary & (2014). "A Marathon for the Mind". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  29. ^ TALIAFERRO, CHARLES (2010). "Ask a Philosopher". Ask a Philosopher?. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  30. ^ Wills, Matthew (2012). "Philosothon" (PDF). American Philosophical Association. 12 (1). Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 January 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  31. ^ "Australian Association of Philosophy". Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  32. ^ Dr Poulton, Janette. "-Victorian Association for Philosophy in Schools". Victorian Philosothon. VAPS. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  33. ^ "FAPSA". Federal Association for Philosophy in Schools. FAPSA. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  34. ^ "Philosophy Now UK Journal". National Philosothon. Philosophy Now. Archived from the original on 23 November 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  35. ^ "FAPSA". ABC Drive Radio. ABC. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  36. ^ "Daily Nous Website". History. Philosothon. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  37. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  38. ^ Smith, Mark. "Philosophy Now". Wellington Weekly. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  39. ^ "Philosothon UK - Academy Conferences invite you to participate". Philosothon UK. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  40. ^ "Independent Education Today". Archived from the original on 10 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  41. ^ Davies, Sian. "The Southern Daily Echo". Wellington Weekly. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  42. ^ Worley, Peter. "Philosophy Foundation". Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  43. ^ Etherton, Rosemary. "The National Gallery of Victoria". Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  44. ^ Dr D'Olympio, Laura. "The Conversation". Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  45. ^ "Philosophy Foundation Website". Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  46. ^ "ChristChurch Grammar Website". Winner of National Philosothon cited. Christ Church Grammar. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  47. ^ "Scotch College Website". Australasian Philosothon cited. Scotch College. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  48. ^ "The West Australian". Australasian Philosothon cited. The West Australian Regional. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  49. ^ Wills, Matthew (November 2019). "Philosothon Newsletter No. 10". Philosothon. Retrieved 28 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  50. ^ "Independent Education Today". Archived from the original on 10 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  51. ^ "Independent Education Today". Archived from the original on 10 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philosothon&oldid=1010187753"