In celebration of World Philosophy Day, The University of Western Ontario is hosting its annual High School Philosophy Symposium on Thursday, Nov. 18 and has invited local students to discuss subjects like “Can philosophy improve health?” “What can science and philosophy learn from each other?” and “What is feminist philosophy?”
The event, which runs from 9:15 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. in Western’s Social Science Centre, features brief lectures presented by three prominent professors from Western’s Department of Philosophy, each followed by an open dialogue between the presenters and the attendees.
John Thorp, a Western philosophy professor who will provide opening remarks, says high school is the perfect time of life to introduce critical thinking into the curriculum.
“This is a good age to start teaching philosophy because the students are ready intellectually and are inherently questioning everything, not only their teachers and their parents but themselves,” explains Thorp.
The participants are students from Catholic Central High School and Mother Theresa Catholic Secondary School.
Western’s Annual High School Philosophy Symposium
John Thorp, Professor and Past Chair, Department of Philosophy
Opening Remarks
9:15 to 9.30 a.m., Social Science Centre Room, 3022
Wayne Myrvold, Director, Philosophy of Science
“What Science Can Learn From Philosophy and What Philosophy Can Learn From Science”
9:30 to 10.20 a.m., Social Science Centre, Room 3022
Tracy Isaacs, Chair, Department of Women’s Studies and Feminist Research
“What Is Feminist Philosophy, and Why?”
10:30 to 11:20 a.m., Social Science Centre, Room 2036
Charles Weijer, Director, Rotman Institute of Philosophy
“Can Philosophy Improve Health?”
11:30 a.m.to 12:20 p.m., Social Science Centre, Room 2036
World Philosophy Day is an initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), developed to encourage stimulation of critical thinking and debate.
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