Hutton Honors College

Can flowers be happy? Can children be philosophers?—Discussion breakfast with Gareth Matthews, professor of philosophy from the University of Massachusetts.

This is a small-group program and requires participants to sign up in advance. Participants must be IU undergraduates and must sign up using the established procedures. For complete sign-up procedures, click here.

In the United States, the study of philosophy is usually saved for college. Philosophy professor Gareth Matthews thinks, however, that even young children can and should be encouraged to do philosophy. He has listened closely as youngsters have wrestled with questions such as, Can a flower be happy? How do you know if you are awake or dreaming? What does it mean to "get even" with someone? Does such thinking, such a question-based approach, help children become moral adults? Or does it just get in the way of them doing well on standardized tests? Can children really do philosophy? Can you? Whether or not you have ever had a class in philosophy, we encourage you to join us to see how you would do with some of the tough questions Professor Matthews has used with children and to talk with him about his work. Among Professor Matthews' books are The Philosophy of Children and Dialogues with Children, as well as Socratic Perplexity and the Nature of Philosophy, which explores the value of confusion, puzzlement, and ignorance. The breakfast is co-sponsored by the Wells Scholars Program and the Hutton Honors College.

Professor Matthews will deliver a Poynter Center Fellows lecture on the topic, "A Philosophy of Childhood," on Monday, March 7, at 4 p.m. in Swain East 105. The lecture is free and open to the public.

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