#PhilosophyMatters

I was delighted to be asked by the British Philosophical Association to contribute to a video they have produced for their new initiative, British Philosophy Fortnight, and their #PhilosophyMatters campaign, which launched last week:

To further mark British Philosophy Fortnight and he campaign, I wrote a thing over at www.PhilosophyUnleashed.com, asking if Philosophy really does matter and, tomorrow, a second #PhilosophyMatters piece will come out looking back over some philosophy I think has mattered in my own classroom over the last week.

The BPA are asking that:

• Philosophy provision is extended in primary and secondary schools, and colleges, including the launch of a Philosophy GCSE

• University Philosophy education is supported and seen as fundamental

• UK Philosophy research and PhDs are funded to maintain their world-leading status

• Philosophers are invited to be expert members on scientific committees and government taskforces

What was particularly pleasing when posting the video earlier in the week was seeing responses such as this one, from a former student:

Or this one, from an old school friend:

Hopefully the campaign will get lots more parents endorsing philosophy options for their children, and many more former students of philosophy sharing why the subject mattered to them.

If your school, or your children’s school, doesn’t currently offer them Philosophy on the curriculum, ask them why. Tell them why #PhilosophyMatters!