Table Of Content“GarethMatthews’s workisimportant,both forphilosophersand for anyone
interested in children and childhood. Subtle and profoundly insightful, it dis-
plays the capacity of children for philosophical thinking, probes the philoso-
phicalaspectsofchildren’s literature,articulatespracticesofSocratic teaching,
and meditates about the concept of childhood. Now, in this superbly edited
volume, his work, too little known, will assume its just place in the middle of
important philosophical achievements of the twentieth century. The volume’s
introductoryandcriticalessaysaddgreatlytoitsvalue.Congratulationsaredue
toallinvolved.”
Martha C. Nussbaum, Law School and Philosophy Department,
The University of Chicago
“When one hears the word philosophy, the word conjures up a subject that is
difficult, abstruse, and not to be taught until the college or post-graduate
level. Yet, philosophy provides not just a subject matter, but also a way of
thinking that can provide razor-sharp reasoning, moral clarity, and unpar-
alleled intellectual excitement. Gareth Matthews showed that all the excite-
ment and intellectual benefits of studying philosophy could be shared not
just with advanced students, but also with children from the elementary
school level, onward. I recommend this book most highly to anyone who
wants to learn about Matthews and how it became possible to share with
children a world that could teach them how to think and how to live.”
Robert J. Sternberg, Cornell University; Honorary Professor of Psychology,
University of Heidelberg, Germany; author of The Nature of
Intelligence and its Development in Childhood
“A brilliant and imaginative book, which collects many of Gareth Matthews’
wonderful essays and frames them with original essays by expert scholars.
Everyone interested in philosophy and childhood should read it, and philo-
sophers not interested in childhood will be if they read it.”
HarryBrighouse,MildredFishHarnackProfessorofPhilosophyandCarolDickson
BascomProfessoroftheHumanities,UniversityofWisconsin-Madison;author
ofEducationalGoods:ValuesandEvidenceinDecision-Making
“There’s so much to appreciate in this new volume on Gareth B. Matthews,
full of fascinating material by Matthews and his colleagues and beautifully
book-ended by testimonials from Stanley Cavell and Jana Mohr Lone. But
what I particularly admire (being a literature scholar by training) is the
book’s focus on Matthews’ affirmation of children’s literature as a philoso-
phical enterprise in its own right. Even more than the other founders of the
philosophy for children movement, Matthews recognized and affirmed the
“philosophical whimsy” in children’s literature—a narrative expression of
wonder and perplexity that invites us all to think and dream. As this volume
shows, Matthews’ understanding of children’s literature now permeates and
inspires philosophical work with children. I learned so much from this
engaging and beautifully designed book, and recommend it with much
enthusiasm.”
KennethB.Kidd,UniversityofFlorida;authorofTheoryforBeginners:Children’s
LiteratureasCriticalThought
“In the rich and exciting world of philosophers thinking about childhood—
childrenasphilosophers,children’sliteratureasphilosophy,whatphilosophy
can tell us about childhood, what children can bring to philosophy—few
tower as tall as does Gareth B. Matthews, and many follow in the path that
he blazed. To read Professor Matthews’ work on the interaction of philoso-
phy and childhood is to enter a world that quickly reminds us what makes
philosophy so wonderful and powerful. This collection of Professor Mat-
thews’ writings, coupled with reflections on his enduring legacy written by
some of the leading researchers and practitioners working in the philosophi-
calareasatthecoreofmuchofProfessorMatthews’ownwrittenoutput,are
a fitting tribute to his legacy. Maughn Rollins Gregory and Megan Jane
Laverty are to be commended for putting together a compelling volume,
which will hopefully spur more philosophers to see how well children and
philosophyserveoneanotherandperhapseventoengageinworkthatbrings
the two together.”
KarenDetlefsen,ProfessorofPhilosophyandEducationattheUniversityofPennsylvania;
editorofDescartes’Meditations:ACriticalGuideandco-editorof
WomenandLiberty,1600-1800:PhilosophicalEssays
“A rich and provocative volume that combines a range of Matthews’ influ-
ential essays with critical new discussions of their importance. The result is a
powerful demonstration that engaging questions of children and childhoods
transforms philosophical thinking and practice. A perfect resource both for
students and scholars new to Matthews and for anyone wishing to take the
work he inspired to the next level.”
JohnWall,ProfessorofPhilosophy,Religion,andChildhoodStudies,Rutgers
University;authorofEthicsinLightofChildhoodandGiveChildrentheVote
“GarethB.Matthews,TheChild’sPhilosopherwillbeaninvaluableresourcefor
thosewithinterestinafinephilosopherwhomadecontributionsnotonlyto
the history of philosophy, philosophy of religion and philosophy of mind,
but also to the still emerging philosophy of childhood. Furthermore, Mat-
thews’ work with children and educators clearly evinced significant respect
for children and the power of even quite young children to raise and be
interested in exploring major philosophical issues. This book makes the
nature of that work very clear and powerfully combines Matthews’ own
writings (on the Socratic elenchus, problems with deficit models of child-
hood, and techniques for encouraging children to do philosophy, among
other topics) with the reflections of a variety of contemporary thinkers (and
onerecentlydeceased,long-timefriendandphilosopher,StanleyCavell)who
appreciate and critique Matthews’ work. This book is highly recommended
for those with an interest in the nature of childhood, the role of children’s
literature in stimulating philosophical engagement, and the contributions
thatchildren’sphilosophizingcanmaketofuturegenerationsofchildrenand
adults alike.”
AmyMullin,UniversityofToronto;authorofReconceivingPregnancyand
Childcare:Ethics,ExperienceandReproductiveLabor
“This excellent volume brings together Matthews’ scholarship on philosophy
and children’s literature, philosophy of childhood, and children as philoso-
phers. Also containing insightful contributions by his commentators and
collaborators, this is an invaluable resource for philosophers writing on chil-
dren and/or childhood, as well as for those who want to learn about philo-
sophical work in this area. This rich collection would be a terrific text for an
upper level or graduate class on philosophy and children and I predict itwill
also be a vital research tool.”
SamanthaBrennan,DeanoftheCollegeofArtsandProfessorofPhilosophy,
UniversityofGuelph
“The quality of a person’s thinking and being can partly be measured by the
quality of what others create in response. This book bears remarkable wit-
ness to a remarkable person. Whilst the collection of Matthews’ writings
speaks powerfully for itself, the editors have brought out the best in con-
structive criticism from their colleagues, to create a perfect combination of a
historyofideasandacelebrationofdevelopingpractice.P4Chasbeengoing
for over 50 years now, and the Philosophy for Children Founders series shows
that it has both sound roots and fruitful branches, not least in the continu-
ing reconceptualization of childhood, philosophy, and education. There is
stillalongwaytogobeforethequalities ofMatthewsand otherfoundersof
P4C are fully appreciated, let alone translated into a more philosophical and
playful educational system. But this book is a bridge into the next 50 years,
duringwhichourspecieswilleitherresowtheseedsofhumanephilosophyor
reap the shrivelled fruits of technocratic implants.”
RogerSutcliffe,co-founderofDialogueWorks,P4C.com,andtheSocietyforthe
AdvancementofPhilosophicalEnquiryandReflectioninEducation(SAPERE);
authorofThinkingMovesA-Z:MetacognitionMadeSimple
“A penetrating extension and enrichment of the conversations about chil-
dren, childhood, children’s literature, and philosophy that Gareth B. Mat-
thews pioneered so brilliantly decades ago. Invaluable for anyone fascinated
by the philosophical thinking of children and how best to engage with, and
benefit from it. Rich and rewarding!”
ClaudiaMills,children’sbookauthorandemeritaprofessorofphilosophy,
UniversityofColorado,Boulder
’
Gareth B. Matthews, The Child s
Philosopher
Gareth B. Matthews, The Child’s Philosopher brings together groundbreaking essays by
renownedAmericanphilosopherGarethB.Matthewsinthreefieldshehelpedtoinitiate:
philosophyinchildren’sliterature,philosophyforchildren,andphilosophyofchildhood.In
addition,contemporaryscholarscriticallyassessMatthews’pioneeringeffortsandhislegacy.
Gareth B. Matthews (1929–2011) was a specialist in ancient and medieval philosophy
whohadconversationswithyoungchildren,discoveringthattheydelightinphilosophical
puzzlement and that their philosophical thinking often enriched his own understanding.
ThoseconversationsbecametheimpetusforasubstantialcomponentofMatthews’scho-
larship, from which this book features essays spanning the length of his career. Con-
temporary contributors to the book critically evaluate Matthews’ scholarship, showing
where he broke new ground and identifying developments and debates in the fields he
helpedtoinitiate.Theytakeuppressingchallenges,includingbiasedidealizationsofchild-
hoodinchildren’sliterature;thetensionsbetweenteachingphilosophyto,anddoingphi-
losophywith,youngpeople;themeritsoftheorizingchildhoodwithouttheorizingchildren;
andhowprofessionalphilosophyatoncedesiresandresistsareturntochildhood.
ThissecondvolumeinthePhilosophyforChildrenFoundersseriesisanimportantresource
for philosophers, educators, and anyone interested in children’s philosophical thinking,
developmental psychology, what it means to philosophize with children, the nature of
childhood,andhowchildren’sliteraturegoesphilosophical.Itwillguideandinspirethose
whoshareMatthews’convictionthattheimpulsetophilosophizebeginsinearlychildhood.
Contributors (in addition to Gareth B. Matthews): Stephanie Burdick-Shepherd,
CristinaCammarano,ClaireCassidy,StanleyCavell,MaughnRollinsGregory,Jennifer
Glaser, Walter Omar Kohan, Megan Jane Laverty, Jana Mohr Lone, Karin Murris,
PeterShea,SusanM.Turner,SusannahSheffer.
Maughn Rollins Gregory is Professor of Educational Foundations at Montclair State
University, USA. Together with Megan Jane Laverty, he edits the Philosophy for Children
Founders series, including In Community with Ann Margaret Sharp: Childhood, Philosophy
andEducation(Routledge,2017).
Megan Jane Laverty is Associate Professor of Philosophy andEducation at Teachers Col-
lege, Columbia University, USA. Together with Maughn Rollins Gregory, she edits the
PhilosophyforChildrenFoundersseries,includingInCommunitywithAnnMargaretSharp:
Childhood,PhilosophyandEducation(Routledge,2017).
Philosophy for Children Founders
Series editors:
Maughn Rollins Gregory,
Montclair State University, USA
Megan Jane Laverty
Teachers College, Columbia University, USA
Philosophy for Children Founders offers a critical reassessment of the work of the
founders of philosophy for children—a movement encompassing all approaches to
the philosophical practice of children and adolescents—in light of developments
insideandoutsidethatmovement.Withinthespanoffiftyyears,philosophicalprac-
tice for children and adolescents has become a global, multi-disciplinary movement
involving innovations in curriculum, pedagogy and educational theory; in moral,
socialandpoliticalphilosophy;andindiscourseandliterarytheory.Ithasevengiven
birth to a new academic field: philosophy of childhood. Contemporary scholars,
educators and practitioners are engaged in robust debates, not only about how to
research and practice philosophy with children and adolescents, but also about the
verymeaningsofphilosophy,childhood,andeducation.Thesedebatesinvolvecon-
testedreadingsofthemovement’shistoryandechodifferencesthataroseamongits
earlyproponents.PhilosophyforChildrenFoundersseeksnottoresolvethesedebates
but to inform them with a historical perspective on the internal complexity of the
movement’scentralconcepts,theories,andpractices.
Each book in the series provides a single-source, critical anthology of the work
of one founder of philosophy for children. The books are organized in thematic
sections given to the founders’ most important scholarly and pedagogical innova-
tions. Each section is introduced by a contemporary scholar who critically evalu-
ates the founder’s work in a particular area and who has selected the essays to be
reprinted in that section. The introduction to each book combines a biographical
sketch with an assessment of the founder’s influence in the movement.
In Community of Inquiry with Ann Margaret Sharp
Childhood, Philosophy and Education
Maughn Rollins Gregory and Megan Jane Laverty
Gareth B. Matthews, The Child’s Philosopher
Maughn Rollins Gregory and Megan Jane Laverty
Formoreinformationaboutthisseries,pleasevisit:https://www.routledge.com/
Philosophy-for-Children-Founders/book-series/P4CF
Gareth B. Matthews, The
’
Child s Philosopher
Edited by
Maughn Rollins Gregory and
Megan Jane Laverty
Firstpublished2022
byRoutledge
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©2022selectionandeditorialmatter,MaughnRollinsGregoryandMegan
JaneLaverty;individualchapters,thecontributors
TherightofMaughnRollinsGregoryandMeganJaneLavertytobeidentified
astheauthorsoftheeditorialmaterial,andoftheauthorsfortheirindividual
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Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereprintedorreproducedor
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trademarks,andareusedonlyforidentificationandexplanationwithoutintent
toinfringe.
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ISBN:978-1-138-34273-6(hbk)
ISBN:978-1-032-04064-6(pbk)
ISBN:978-0-429-43959-9(ebk)
DOI:10.4324/9780429439599
TypesetinGalliard
byTaylor&FrancisBooks
Contents
List of contributors xiv
Series Editors’ Introduction xvii
MAUGHNROLLINSGREGORYANDMEGANJANELAVERTY
Acknowledgements xix
Gareth B. Matthews: A philosopher’s life with children 1
MEGANJANELAVERTYANDMAUGHNROLLINSGREGORY
Time and place for philosophy 29
STANLEYCAVELL
PARTI
Gareth B. Matthews on philosophy and children’s literature 39
1 Age-transgressive philosophizing with children’s literature 41
KARINMURRIS
2 Philosophy and children’s literature 60
GARETHB.MATTHEWS
3 The philosophical imagination in children’s literature 68
GARETHB.MATTHEWS
4 Thinking in stories 78
GARETHB.MATTHEWS
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery 78
Not Now, Bernard by David McKee 79
The Mountains of Tibet by Mordecai Gerstein 81
PARTII
Gareth B. Matthews on children’s philosophical thinking 85
