Potentials of Philosophy for Children as Prevention against Violence

Abstract

For Western societies and schools violence has become a priority topic. Not only because of traumatic terrorist attacks in some countries, and maltreatment among peers at school, but also because of the growing number of pupils with disputed behavior. Teachers often want magic formulas that help them in class to deal with outbursts of unacceptable behavior. At that time, every "philosophy" seems totally redundant. Philosophy can even appear as a model of what they do not need and an example of what is not working. However, in a sense, violence is a place where philosophy is needed as a reflection and as a practice. Violence / aggression is the breakdown of everyday life of the school – just as philosophy is to break the established ways of thinking. This suspension requires not only the control of aggressive (dangerous or at least disturbing) pupils, but also the reflection on the relationship between socialization and emancipation in school. On the other hand, the practice of reflection also creates responsibility for the other and for its own thinking and conduct. This is another name for philosophy for children.