Why Do We Need 'Thinking Skills'?

Children, we are told, must learn to be 'independent learners'.  So, rather than being sponges that absorb and simply assimilate 'received wisdom' they (and we!) should rather be encouraged to think about problems for themselves, and come to their own conclusions.  Philosophy is the perfect tool for this job!   Having finished my degree, I am struck (in retrospect) at how one of the first things we learned about was logic.  The entire degree is really underpinned by this subject, as the conclusions one comes to are arguably less important than the process through which one goes to get to those conclusions.  Children need 'thinking tools' and logic is the perfect thinking tool.

Studying philosophy boosts IQ.  It teaches how to make and use good arguments, logical arguments, and so is particularly useful in professions such as law, mediation, politics and anything else where you need to persuade someone else of your point of view (marriage?!).  If you can make good arguments, and spot bad ones, your negotiating position in any given situation is enhanced considerably.

Many of our professional politicians and lawyers have degrees in philosophy or 'PPE' (politics, philosophy and economics).  

Additionally,  test scores in the US show that philosophy graduates come out top in verbal reasoning and analytical writing skills and in the top 15 for quantitative reasoning.

Why Philosophy?

Philosophy has been shown in studies to be the best subject for development of skills in verbal reasoning and analytical writing[1], and in the top 15 for quantitative reasoning:

Average GRE Scores by Intended Graduate Major, 7/1/01-6/30/04

(These are only the top 15 of 50 subjects)

Click here to learn more about the way philosophy helps your child's brain grow!

Click here to learn more about the practical use of philosophy in the workplace, and for careers.