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News
News: January/February 2011
Philosophy Day row irks Iran • Mindreading computers • Philodcasts? • French toddlers play with ideas — News reports by Sue Roberts
Les enfants philosophiques
At a time when France is experiencing an upsurge of interest in philosophical affairs, encompassing festivals, corporate seminars, caf é debates and even cartoon strips, a debate over the age at which the discipline should be introduced to pupils is hotting up. A new documentary (Ce n’est pas qu’un debut or ‘Just a Beginning’) follows a Parisian nursery class of three and four-year olds being taught philosophical concepts over a two year period. Filmmakers Jean-Pierre Pozzi and Pierre Barougier recorded 180 hours of footage which have been condensed into one hour and 35 minutes. A lighted candle serves as a focal point for the childrens’ attention, after which discussion was encouraged of topics such as love, death and what it means to be intelligent.
Meanwhile the French Minister for Education has proposed a new pilot scheme to teach philosophy to 15-year-olds.
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