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“An unexamined life is not worth living” (Socrates,
n.d.). The need of philosophy in the curriculum is a hotly debated issue. Two
years back UNESCO took the initiative to underline its benefits and organized a
regional meeting on the topic ‘Teaching of philosophy in the Arab region’ to
share the outcomes, to promote and to educate the public on the advantages of
learning philosophy. At present, the need for including philosophy is
recognized with respect to the outcomes it brings. Philosophy makes people
better understand themselves and the world in which they live. It is very
evident that teaching philosophy fetches nothing but good. So, all schools
should include philosophy in their curriculum.
The main advantage of inclusion is that it enhances a
person's critical-thinking ability. Critical thinking by definition means
higher-order thinking. It helps one understand and evaluate ideas carefully and
responsibly. It aids a student think independently. Critical thinking provides
a person the ability to solve real life problems with ease. A study conducted
found educationalists, politicians and businessmen emphasizing the failure of
the current education system in producing well educated citizens. It fails to
produce well-educated citizens. Current curriculum focuses on filling a
student’s head with information. A head
with information and without the knowledge of properly utilizing it is useless.
As to Aristotle (384-322 BCE), an educated mind must always entertain thinking.
Lack of critical thinking is the reason why most of the students find it
difficult to solve questions involving thinking skills. Education should not be
just for earning a white collar job. It should also focus on giving students
answers to the real-life problems. Education is also responsible for creating a
civilized community. Student should always be encouraged to ask doubts.
According to Confucius (551-479 BCE), Education without developing the ability
to think and act is futile. It is human's ability to think that differentiates
them from machines and animals. It is this ability that helped humans reach
where they are at present. So it can be inferred that without thinking ability
human is nothing.
Furthermore, philosophy makes a person ethical in
reasoning. Ethical reasoning is a person’s ability to make flawless judgments.
Developing ethical reasoning in a person is important for both, themselves and
the world in which they live. An ethical person is one who respects honesty,
dignity and rights of individuals. Such a person will always stand with truth.
These qualities will make them brave which will in turn encourage them to raise
voice against any immoral practices. An ethical person can never be a coward
(Mahatma Gandhi, n.d.). Cowards change their words with the situation. They
think only about their wellbeing. Such an attitude is not good for a society.
As to Churchill (n.d.), a true genius is a person who can evaluate any
unexpected or hazardous problems. None is interested in what a person possesses
but how useful a person can be. For instance, consider a fair minded critical
person. Such a person will be ethical, empathic and just in their act and
words. Their intellectual abilities will be utilized to uplift the society.
They will have the ability to solve many real-life problems with ease and will
be depended by others. Society too expects something from each one. They don't
want an encyclopedia head to search for their problem but a source that can
help them alleviate their problems. Respect is for the one who can help their
fellow beings and not for the one with rich information.
Lack of philosophy in the curriculum makes schools a
place for filling facts without any knowledge about solving real-life problems.
Students will end up finding life complex and may even lead them to end their
life. Human kingdom will then be stocked
with information-rich ones and not well educated ones. In contrast, if
philosophy is included in curriculum, students will be introduced to the vast
world of knowledge. It will make them better judge and well aware of the
real-life situations. The need of the time is not information specialists but
well educated people. It can thus create a well-educated society.
Philosophy is a subject without which education can be
thought of as incomplete. Judging power is a quality that differentiates a
student from a school with philosophy in curriculum with one in which it is
not. Students from the former school will have the ability to recognize the
nature of problems and give appropriate judgment. In contrast, students of the
latter school will often end up making wrong judgment. Problem solving skill is
another ability that differentiate a school with philosophy included in their
curriculum and one in which it is not. Pupils from the former school will have
the independence of thought. This independence makes them responsible and
careful while evaluating any problems. While students from the latter school
will find it arduous to solve even regular problems they face. So it can be
inferred that a student from a school
with philosophy in their curriculum will have better judging and problem
solving power than the one in which it is not included.
As it can be seen from the above, Philosophy improves a
person’s critical thinking and ethical reasoning power. It improves an
individual’s overall performance. It is evident that including philosophy in
the curriculum brings nothing but good. People should change their negative
attitude towards the inclusion of philosophy, which makes student's study
easier and not harder. Should the next generation face the problems that the
present generation is facing? It must be prevented before it becomes a serious
issue. So philosophy is a must be included as a discipline subject. Present
generation does not own this world, but they borrowed it from their children.
So people must be careful about each judgment they make. The purpose of this
essay is to make people aware of fruitful outcomes learning philosophy can
bring. This essay has not been able to discuss the entire outcomes that study
of philosophy may bring about. A psychological and scientific approach to the
Implementation process may make the subject easier and interesting. So, the
implementation process of philosophy may be the next problem to be analyzed.
Works
Cited
Aristotle. (384-322 BCE). Quotes about Critical Thinking.
Retrieved July 17, 2011 from
Confucius. (551-479 BCE). Quotes
about Critical Thinking.
Retrieved July 17, 2011 from
Gandhi, M. (n.d.).
Moral
quotes
Retrieved July 17, 2011 from
Churchill, Winston
(n.d.). Top ten quotes on evaluation
Retrieved July 17, 2011 from
Paul,Richard.,& Elder,Lynda. (2006). Functions of Ethics – and its
main impediments. In Understanding the foundations of Ethical Reasoning.
Retrieved July 17, 2011 from
http://openedpractices.org/files/Ethical_Reasoningpub_0.pdf
Why study philosophy?. (n.d.). .
Retrieved July 17, 2011 from
Why philosophy?. (2011). .
Retrieved July 17, 2011 from
www.hull.ac.uk
