Laurance Joseph Splitter

This book brings the tools and ideas of Anglo-American analytic philosophy to bear on how we think about issues of contemporary significance, in a way that is accessible to a broad audience. While acknowledging empirical findings within the social sciences, it takes on the prescriptive task of imagining a better world, in which being citizens in a democracy means actively engaging with others. We cling to tribal affiliations which incline us to look inward and spurn those whom we deem to be “other.” And we observe the mind-numbing, herd-like impact of social (and other) media on our capacity – and that of our children – to distinguish truth and good sense from falsehood and nonsense. Such problems demand our attention as reasonable persons who both think for themselves, and deliberate in good faith with others with whom they may well disagree. The good news is that while reasonableness cannot be taken for granted, it can –indeed, it must – be nurtured and it must be taught. This book both articulates a conception of reasonableness and exemplifies a clear standard of reasonableness, with respect to the questions it raises and the author's responses to them.

This book brings the tools and ideas of Anglo-American analytic philosophy to bear on how we think about issues of contemporary significance, in a way that is accessible to a broad audience. While acknowledging empirical findings within the social sciences, it takes on the prescriptive task of imagining a better world, in which being citizens in a democracy means actively engaging with others. We cling to tribal affiliations which incline us to look inward and spurn those whom we deem to be “other.” And we observe the mind-numbing, herd-like impact of social (and other) media on our capacity – and that of our children – to distinguish truth and good sense from falsehood and nonsense. Such problems demand our attention as reasonable persons who both think for themselves, and deliberate in good faith with others with whom they may well disagree. The good news is that while reasonableness cannot be taken for granted, it can –indeed, it must – be nurtured and it must be taught. This book both articulates a conception of reasonableness and exemplifies a clear standard of reasonableness, with respect to the questions it raises and the author's responses to them.

Lapset filosofoivat oma-aloitteisesti, mielellään ja hyvin. Se on lasten oikeus ja ilo, oppimisen apu ja itsetunnon lähde Opettajien ja kasvattajien tulee osata tukea lasten karttuvia ajattelutaitoja. Kuka minä olen? on esikoululaisten ja ekaluokkalaisten lukemiseksi tarkoitetun Nukkesairaala-romaanin rinnakkaisteos. Se antaa runsaat ja vahvat eväät lasten kanssa käytävän dialogin ohjaamiseen. Tämä professorikaksikon laatima konstailematon opas on täynnä käytännössä hyviksi havaittuja keskustelupohjia, harjoituksia ja toiminnallisia tehtäviä. Filosofi ja pedagogi Ann Margaret Sharp on lapsille tarkoitetun filosofian uranuurtajia. Laurance J. Splitter on Sharpin ja toisen lasten filosofoinnin voimahahmon, Matthew Lipmanin, läheinen työtoveri. Lasten kanssa filosofoimisesta ympäri maailmaa saadut kokemukset hyödyttävät nyt myös pieniä suomalaisia ajattelijoita. Kuka minä olen? ja Nukkesairaala sopivat kaiken esi- ja luokanopetuksen tueksi. Opettajalta ei vaadita aiempaa kokemusta lapsille suunnatusta filosofiasta.