Why Is There So Little Time Spent on Philosophy in Our Schools?

Translation:

• Because philosophy is emancipating

• Because philosophy teaches good, and changes students’ lives

• Because free thinking is a danger to power

• All the above

I’ve thought about this a great deal, especially because of my friendship with a guy who grew up in The Netherlands, where every high-schooler studies, at a minimum, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Descartes.

First of all, let me say that I doubt the conspiracy theory expressed here has too much merit.  There are plenty of ways to encourage kids to think for themselves and question authority that don’t require the introduction of Western philosophy, e.g., teaching Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States. 

I believe that the thinking behind American education is pragmatism.  Learn what you’ll need to get into college, and, from there, become a productive member of society.

The entire culture of Europe is far more broad-minded.  Life is about more than a successful career, and that high-level concept lies at the core of all things European.  Thus one finds things like far longer vacations, shorter work weeks, parental leave-of-absence, and meals that span hours.

When I expressed my astonishment that my friend could play the intermediate-level pieces of Chopin, like the posthumous Eb Waltz (below), he said, “Oh, I was just average at the piano.  Almost every kid graduating from high school in The Netherlands plays at least as well as I do.”

Yikes.