Philosothon

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 comprising 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.{{cite web|title=Philosothon Website|url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Philosothon/|work=History|publisher=Philosothon|accessdate=15 May 2017}}{{cite web|title=Philosothon Website|url=http://www.philosothon.org/|work=History|publisher=Philosothon|accessdate=10 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923001544/http://www.philosothon.org/|archive-date=23 September 2011|url-status=live}}

Following the first Philosothon, the event began being promoted 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. Primary school Philosothons have been conducted in various art galleries in some Australian states and in the UK.{{cite web |last=Worley |first=Peter |date=22 July 2014 |title=Philosophy Guide |url=https://capitalcornerstone1.blogspot.com/2024/01/what-is-philosothon-detailed-guide.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219063200/http://philosophyfoundation.wordpress.com/2014/07/22/uks-first-primary-philosothon/ |archive-date=19 December 2014 |access-date=30 October 2014}}{{cite web|last=Etherton|first=Rosemary|title=The National Gallery of Victoria|url=https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/2014-victorian-primary-school-philosothon/|access-date=16 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222144021/https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/2014-victorian-primary-school-philosothon/|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=live}} Philosothons have been established in regional cities throughout Australia and New Zealand. A similar growth has been spearheaded by Academy Conferences in the UK, where various regional hubs are emerging, such as Stowe.{{cite web|title=Macquarie Port News|date=10 December 2018|url=https://www.portnews.com.au/story/5801966/hastings-students-ponder-lifes-big-questions/|accessdate=3 Jan 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103110452/https://www.portnews.com.au/story/5801966/hastings-students-ponder-lifes-big-questions/|archive-date=3 January 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite book|title=Philosophical Inquiry with Children:The Development of an Inquiring Society ...edited by Gilbert Burgh, Simone Thornton|date = 7 December 2018|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JYV7DwAAQBAJ&q=philosothon&pg=PT248|publisher=University of Queensland|isbn = 9780429777134|accessdate=3 Jan 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103110301/https://books.google.com.au/books?id=JYV7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT248&dq=philosothon&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiFwfmX0dDfAhUCe7wKHWggAe4Q6AEIMTAB#v=onepage&q=philosothon&f=false|archive-date=3 January 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Philosothon NSW - Academy Conferences invite you to participate |url=https://www.philosophyinschoolsnsw.org/ |access-date=2020-07-09 |website=Philosothon NSW |language=en-GB}}

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.{{cite web|last=W.|first=Justin|title=Daily Nous|date=21 August 2017|url=http://dailynous.com/2017/08/21/large-grant-support-pre-college-philosophy-australasia/|access-date=28 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829081904/http://dailynous.com/2017/08/21/large-grant-support-pre-college-philosophy-australasia/|archive-date=29 August 2017|url-status=live}} Similar funding was awarded to the Ian Ramsey Centre at Oxford University to expand the UK Philosothon initiative in 2019.{{Cite web|title=Philosothon Expansion in the UK|url=https://www.ianramseycentre.info/philosothon-expansion-in-the-uk|access-date=2020-07-09|website=www.ianramseycentre.info|language=en}} The Philosothons also take place around the UK with introductory presentations given to teachers at Academy Conferences multiple times each year.{{cite web|title=UK Philosothon|url=http://www.philosothon.co.uk/=History|publisher=Taunton School UK|accessdate=3 January 2019}}{{cite web|title=University of Queensland Philosothon|url=http://www.ctp.uq.edu.au/content/qld-state-philosothon|work=History|publisher=University of Queensland|accessdate=11 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222091335/http://www.ctp.uq.edu.au/content/qld-state-philosothon|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Philosothon UK - Academy Conferences invite you to participate|url=https://philosothon.co.uk/|access-date=2020-07-09|website=Philosothon UK|language=en-GB}} More recently, the University of Western Australia was awarded a grant from the Templeton Religion Trust to focus on developing Philosothons in remote and regional parts of Australia and New Zealand.{{Cite web|title=UWA Research List Repository|url=https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/projects/philosothon-project-phase-2|access-date=2021-03-03|website=www.research-repository.uwa.edu.au|language=en}} Matthew Wills was appointed the Project Manager.{{Cite web|title=TRT Grants List|url=https://templetonreligiontrust.org/explore/philosothon-project/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=www.templetonreligiontrust.org|language=en}} As part of the expansion of Philosothons in the UK, there have been introductory presentations to teachers explaining the concept of Philosothons at more than 15 Academy Conferences events, as well as ISRSA and NATRE conferences.{{Cite web|title=Conference 2019|url=https://www.isrsa.co.uk/conference-2019|access-date=2020-07-09|website=isrsa|language=en}} These presentations have been accompanied by associated outreach work, including the development of a website and distribution of more than 500 flash drives with introductory and administrative material--all funded by the Templeton Religion Trust.{{Cite web|title=Philosothon Expansion in the UK|url=https://www.ianramseycentre.info/philosothon-expansion-in-the-uk|access-date=2020-07-09|website=www.ianramseycentre.info|language=en}}

File:JuniorSchoolPhilosothon.jpg

In 2020, the Australasian Association of Philosophy ran the first online Philosothon.{{cite web|title=Daily Nous Website|url=https://dailynous.com/|work=History|publisher=Philosothon|accessdate=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201122929/https://dailynous.com/|archive-date=1 February 2021|url-status=bot: unknown}} With the arrival of the COVID-19 and travel restrictions, the 2020 Australasian Philosothon was held online with twenty-one Australian and New Zealand schools participating.{{Cite web|title=AAP Philosothon|url=https://aap.org.au/Philosothon|website=www.aap.org.au|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=AAP Philosothon|url=https://philosothon.org/2020AustralasianPhilosothon/Home.html|website=philosothon.org/|language=en}}

The rationale for the Philosothon 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.{{cite web|last=Prof Stephan Millett|first=Dr Alan Tapper &|title=Educational Philosophy and Theory 'Benefits of Collaborative Philosophical Inquiry in Schools'|year=2011|url=http://legein.perso.sfr.fr/LPP/Benefits%20of%20Collaborative%20Philosophical%20Inquiry%20in%20Schools.pdf|accessdate=10 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301215644/http://legein.perso.sfr.fr/LPP/Benefits%20of%20Collaborative%20Philosophical%20Inquiry%20in%20Schools.pdf|archive-date=1 March 2014|url-status=live}} Students are given questions and some stimulus reading materials in advance.{{cite web|title=Philosothon Website|url=http://www.philosothon.org|work=Resources|publisher=Philosothon|accessdate=10 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923001544/http://www.philosothon.org/|archive-date=23 September 2011|url-status=live}}

Examples of questions from recent Philosothons include:

• Is it moral to fake kindness? (Moral Philosophy)
• Do men and woman have different natures? (Metaphysical)
• Do you have free will? (Metaphysical)
• Should you always listen to the opinions of others? (Epistemology)
• How free should speech be? (Political Philosophy)

Due to COVID restrictions, online Philosothons have been increasing in popularity.{{cite web|title=Daily Nous Website|url=https://dailynous.com/|work=History|publisher=Philosothon|accessdate=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201122929/https://dailynous.com/|archive-date=1 February 2021|url-status=bot: unknown}} Whether online or face-to-face, students, teachers and parents gather on a particular evening each year for the event. The students participate in a series of four philosophical Community of inquiry discussions, which are facilitated by teachers, philosophy students from the local universities, or someone with a PhD. While participating in this process, students are scored by philosophy lecturers, who are often from local universities. The scores are then collated, ranked, and awards are given to students at each age-level. Additionally, the most promising male and female philosopher receive encouragement awards. A trophy is awarded to the winning school.{{cite journal|last=Flood|first=Gary &|title=A Marathon for the Mind|journal=The Philosophers' Magazine|year=2014|issue=67|pages=10–15|doi=10.5840/tpm201467104|url=https://www.pdcnet.org/pdc/bvdb.nsf/purchase?openform&fp=tpm&id=tpm_2014_0067_0010_0015|accessdate=10 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100500/https://www.pdcnet.org/pdc/bvdb.nsf/purchase?openform&fp=tpm&id=tpm_2014_0067_0010_0015|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live}}

File:NationalPhilosothonWinners.jpg

In July 2011, the first National Philosothon was held at Cranbrook School. Each Australian state sent three teams (those schools that won in their regional Philosothon), so twelve schools in total arrived in Sydney to participate in the inaugural event.{{cite web|title=Australian Association of Philosophy|url=http://aap.org.au/event-319903|accessdate=10 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309152657/http://aap.org.au/event-319903|archive-date=9 March 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Dr Poulton|first=Janette|title=-Victorian Association for Philosophy in Schools|url=http://vaps.vic.edu.au/events/victorian-secondary-philosothon-16th-september-2015|work=Victorian Philosothon|publisher=VAPS|accessdate=10 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151116121335/http://vaps.vic.edu.au/events/victorian-secondary-philosothon-16th-september-2015|archive-date=16 November 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=FAPSA|url=http://fapsa.org.au/philosothon/|work=Federal Association for Philosophy in Schools|publisher=FAPSA|accessdate=10 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115125154/http://fapsa.org.au/philosothon/|archive-date=15 January 2012|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|title=Philosophy Now UK Journal|url=http://philosophynow.org/issues/104/News_September_October_2014|work=National Philosothon|publisher=Philosophy Now|accessdate=1 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141123220502/https://philosophynow.org/issues/104/News_September_October_2014|archive-date=23 November 2014|url-status=live}} Each year the Australasian Philosothon is run in a different region in Australasia.{{cite web|title=FAPSA|url=http://philosothon.org/2014AustralasianPhilosothon/philosothonstudents.mp3|work=ABC Drive Radio|publisher=ABC|accessdate=10 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726212339/http://philosothon.org/2014AustralasianPhilosothon/philosothonstudents.mp3|archive-date=26 July 2014|url-status=live}} In 2019, the ninth Australasian Philosothon was held at Radford College in Canberra. In 2020, the Australasian Philosothon was hosted online for the first time by the Australasian Association of Philosophy.{{cite web |title=Daily Nous Website |url=https://dailynous.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201122929/https://dailynous.com/ |archive-date=1 February 2021 |accessdate=4 February 2021 |work=History |publisher=Philosothon}}

Philosothons have been running in the UK since 2013. Revd. Mark Smith & Julie Arliss from the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics Department at King's College, Taunton, UK, spearheaded the Philosothon movement in the United Kingdom in collaboration with Dr Michael Lacewing from Heythrop College and Lizzy Lewis from Sapere.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kings-taunton.co.uk/philosothon/ |title=Philosothon | King's College Taunton |access-date=10 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821165119/http://www.kings-taunton.co.uk/philosothon/ |archive-date=21 August 2017 |url-status=live }} Wells Cathedral College won the first event. More recently, Philosothons have spread throughout the UK by being promoted at Academy Conferences events through 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).{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Mark|title=Philosophy Now|url=https://philosophynow.org/issues/135/The_Philosothon_Phenomenon|accessdate=20 March 2020|newspaper=Wellington Weekly}}{{Cite web |title=Investor Development Educational Programs |url=https://www.bdc.ca/en/bdc-capital/venture-capital/ecosystem-support/educational-programs |access-date=2020-07-09 |website=BDC Capital |language=en-GB}} Primary School Philosothons have also been hosted by the Philosophy Foundation.{{cite web|title=Independent Education Today|url=http://ie-today.co.uk/Article/young_philosophers_have_winning_thoughts|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410113446/http://ie-today.co.uk/Article/young_philosophers_have_winning_thoughts|archive-date=10 April 2015|url-status=live}} Other Philosothons have been held around the UK.{{cite news|last=Davies|first=Sian|title=The Southern Daily Echo|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11155830.display/|accessdate=12 March 2017|newspaper=Wellington Weekly|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911025204/http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11155830.display/|archive-date=11 September 2017|url-status=live}}

In 2012, the inaugural Primary School Philosothon was held at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).{{cite web |last=Worley |first=Peter |date=22 July 2014 |title=Philosophy Foundation |url=https://capitalcornerstone1.blogspot.com/2024/01/what-is-philosothon-detailed-guide.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219063200/http://philosophyfoundation.wordpress.com/2014/07/22/uks-first-primary-philosothon/ |archive-date=19 December 2014 |access-date=30 October 2014}}{{cite web|last=Etherton|first=Rosemary|title=The National Gallery of Victoria|url=https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/2014-victorian-primary-school-philosothon/|access-date=16 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222144021/https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/2014-victorian-primary-school-philosothon/|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|last=Dr D'Olympio|first=Laura|title=The Conversation|url=http://theconversation.com/philosophy-in-schools-promoting-critical-creative-and-caring-thinking-44578|access-date=11 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222114656/http://theconversation.com/philosophy-in-schools-promoting-critical-creative-and-caring-thinking-44578|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=live}} The following year, 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.{{cite web|title=Philosophy Foundation Website|date=22 July 2014 |url=https://philosophyfoundation.wordpress.com/2014/07/22/uks-first-primary-philosothon/|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219063200/http://philosophyfoundation.wordpress.com/2014/07/22/uks-first-primary-philosothon/|archive-date=19 December 2014|url-status=live}}

{{Reflist}}

• http://www.philosothon.org
• http://www.philosothon.co.uk/
• https://aap.org.au/Philosothon
• https://capitalcornerstone1.blogspot.com/2024/01/what-is-philosothon-detailed-guide.html

Category:Australian educational programs

Category:Educational projects

Category:Philosophy events

Category:Annual events in Australia