(PHILOsphie. Enfance. Action. CitoyenneTé.)

La philosophie avec les enfants :  pour l’esprit critique, le dialogue interculturel et une citoyenneté éclairée.

https://phileact.univ-nantes.fr/

PHILEACT is part of the UNESCCO Chair at the University of Nantes devoted to the practice of philosophy with children. 

The development and extension of philosophy throughout the curricula of education systems - from nursery school to university - have long been part of the EU's guidelines, and have been strongly encouraged as part of cross-sectoral strategies, notably with the publication in 2007 of the book Philosophy, a school of freedom. Current events are alerting all democratic public authorities to the need to educate future citizens from an early age in critical thinking, humanist values, equality between men and women, and the need for peaceful and respectful dialogue between all cultures. In a complex world faced with various crises and conflicts, the right of all children to an education in full citizenship and humanist values is a crucial issue. The PHILEACT project on philosophy with children aims to provide concrete ways of implementing this right to learn to think at school and in the community. Beyond any media involvement in a new vogue, the interest of philosophy with children should be part of the EU's concerns:  With a view to promoting a culture of peace and humanist values stemming from the philosophy of the Enlightenment, a universalist ideal that takes account of cultural diversity, and raising awareness of environmental issues, the fact that children are trained from an early age in critical thinking, independent judgement, peaceful dialogue and encounters with the Other, protects them against dogmatism and manipulation of all kinds. The aims of philosophy with children are not just educational, but fully political in the noblest sense of the term. 

Practising philosophy with children is closely linked to building a culture of peace and supporting the values of the Enlightenment. The development of critical thinking and complex thought, and education in empathy through collective reflection, encounters and dialogue must be mutually reinforcing from an early age. The practice of philosophy with children in schools and in the community (libraries, theatres, associations) aims to sharpen the critical thinking of future citizens, and to promote equality, respect for differences and democratic debate. This practice, rooted in a humanist ideal, still needs to be more widely deployed in the field (schools, libraries, voluntary and cultural organisations). 

The aim of the PHILEAC project is to help develop these civic practices through research, teaching, training, experimentation in the field and the dissemination of teaching tools in schools and the community. PHILEACT aims to coordinate and bring together the various teams of researchers, trainers and structures already working on this subject or wishing to become involved, and to consolidate cooperation between researchers and practitioners within the EU and internationally, as intercultural dialogue - particularly in the context of North/South relations - is an integral part of the objectives and values of our project. The aim is to make all the training activities sustainable and to create resource centres to enable the long-term deployment and practical implementation of philosophy workshops in schools and in the city, through the training of researchers, trainers and philosophy workshop leaders.

Among the results and other effects expected from the project:

• To make Europe and the PHILEACT "Erasmus plus" project a model and driving force in the development of philosophy with children and teenagers.  To show that practising philosophy with children makes it possible to pass on the humanist values at the heart of the European project, while respecting diversity and intercultural dialogue. 
• To influence European education policies, enabling the explicit inclusion in school curricula of philosophy teaching for all ages. This teaching could help develop critical thinking, democratic practices, tolerance, open-mindedness and intercultural dialogue.
• To promote, legitimise and develop research into philosophical practices with children by coordinating an international network with Europe as the driving force. The research will focus on the following areas: development of civic and democratic skills (listening to and respecting differences), intellectual and psychosocial skills (critical thinking and empathy), and the effects on the relationship with knowledge and learning.
• Support for the creation of university training models for leading philosophical practices with children and teenagers. Development of initial and continuing training courses run by the various partners.
• Support for the practical implementation of philosophy workshops in schools and in associative and cultural structures in all the territories of the various partners. Support for teaching teams, visits to schools and facilities wishing to set up philosophy workshops, purchase of books, seminars for analysing practices with leaders, material assistance for teachers or community leaders to take part in training modules and attend research seminars.

Project partners: 

University of Nantes, France

Inspe Academy of Nantes

Unesco Chair

University of Guyane, France

University of Nouméa, New Caledonia, France

University of Polynesia, France

University of the Aegean, Laboratory of Research on Practical Philosophy (L.R.P.Ph.), Greece

Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

National Plan For The Arts, Lisbon, Portugal

University of Liège, Philocité. Belgium 

Lia Menna Barreto, Jardim da infância, 1997

This event crosses the research interests of the International Biennale of Practical Philosophy as it opens up a practical perspective encapsulating and bringing together philosophical and civic demands through the requirement of dialogue in public spaces, thus creating a space for practical philosophical experience based on the interests of children and adolescents and conducted with them.