Throughout my whole teaching career, I have heard that I must teach children to think critically. The caveat is, when people think critically, they start making their own decisions. For the past month, we have been having great discussions about some deep, and most times, philosophical topics. I was giving the students time to write in class, and then we would have a discussion as a large group. I would like to try something for the next thirty topics.
Below you will see the Common Core standards that address comprehension and collaboration. I would like to place students in discussion groups and have them share, listen, and then strive towards a consensus... or at least share what they discussed. In order to use the time wisely, I will give them the topic the day before. This way they can come prepared and they can discuss right away. I think it will also make sure they are not caught off guard.
I must tell you that I have been holding off on some of these remaining topics because they will require maturity to discuss. Here is the list that I have been taking the questions from. (see below) For example, I know that asking questions about souls, the afterlife, and God will produce answers that some students might not want to discuss, or even believe that there is a reason to discuss because there is only one answer.
There are plenty of topics left to discuss, and we do not have to cover all of these. I have been joking that I have been deciding when to cover some topics because I don't want to lose my job! :)
So far, I have not had any problems with the class discussions. Then again, I have been leading the discussions. The question could be asked, Why are you discussing these topics? My answer would be Because we as humans have been asking these questions for centuries and have not figured out the answers. Artists, musicians, poets, writers, philosophers, theologians, scientists, and everyday people have been sharing their thoughts on these questions.
Thank you for reading this. After writing this, I have not come to a decision about the blue topics. Eventually, I would like the students to choose one topic and write about it in depth, bringing in the opinions of others.
-Mr. Bosler
CC.8.SL.1 Engage effectively
in a range of collaborative discussions building
on
others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
CC.8.SL.1.a
Come to
discussions prepared
to probe and
reflect on ideas under discussion.
CC.8.SL.1.d
Acknowledge
new
information expressed by others, and, when warranted, qualify or justify their
own views in light of the evidence presented.
The italic questions are the ones I am concerned about.
65 philosophical questions
1. Is it worse to fail at something or never attempt it in the first place?
2. If you could choose just one thing to change about the world, what would it be?
3. To what extent do you shape your own destiny, and how much is down to fate?
4. Does nature shape our personalities more than nurture?
5. Should people care more about doing the right thing, or doing things right?
6. What one piece of advice would you offer to a newborn infant?
7. Where is the line between insanity and creativity?
8. What is true happiness?
9. What things hold you back from doing the things that you really want to?
10. What makes you, you?
11. What is the truth?
12. What is reality?
13. Do you make your own decisions, or let others make them for you?
14. What makes a good friend?
15. Why do people fear losing things that they do not even have yet?
16. Who defines good and evil?
17. What is the difference between living and being alive?
18. Is a “wrong” act okay if nobody ever knows about it?
19. Who decides what morality is?
20. How do you know that your experience of consciousness is the same as other people’s experience of consciousness?
21. What is true strength?
22. What is true love?
23. Is a family still relevant in the modern world?
24. What role does honour play in today’s society?
25. If money cannot buy happiness, can you ever be truly happy with no money?
26. How do you know your perceptions are real?
27. How much control do you have over your life?
28. What is freedom?
29. Isn’t one person’s terrorist another person’s freedom fighter?
30. What happens after we die?
31. What defines you?
32. What do people strive for after enlightenment?
33. Do we have a soul?
34. What is intelligence?
35. How should people live their lives?
36. If lying is wrong, are white lies okay?
37. Is trust more important than love?
38. Is it easier to love or be loved?
39. Is it better to love and lose or never to love?
40. Do aliens exist?
41. The structure of DNA appears to be intelligently designed, what are the implications?
42. If everything evolved from amoebas, how does the world still have amoebas?
43. Is life all a dream?
44. When does consciousness begin?
45. What are numbers?
46. Can we have happiness without sadness?
47. How did the universe begin?
48. Is there a supreme power?
49. What is education?
50. What will happen at the end of the world?
51. Is there a reason to life?
52. Where does the soul live?
53. Is it more important to be liked or respected?
54. Does sound happen if nothing is present to hear it?
55. What is infinity?
56. Where does the universe end?
57. Does observation alter an event?
58. Does the Law of Attraction exist?
59. How does gravity work?
60. Where were people before they were born?
61. What is beauty?
62. Where do thoughts come from?
63. Is mind or matter more real?
64. What is time?
65. How can people believe in truths without evidence?
