Akram Khoja
Where did you come from? Why are there many languages in the world? Why do people get sick? Children usually ask their parents these questions because they want to know more. Sara Goering, a professor of philosophy at Washington University, believes that children are natural-born philosophers and should, therefore, be taught philosophy at an early age to acquire critical thinking skills.
I took philosophy when I was a college student and became familiar with various philosophers and their theories about life such as Aristotle. In fact, the theories have changed my life completely and made me question and analyze everything I hear.
We live in a world full of terrorists and extremists who try hard to lure young men, especially those who do not have a strong will, to join them. A young man with an empty life can easily fall prey to extremists. To end this malicious cancer, we need to build leadership skills in our young men and women and equip them with the tools they need to analyze and criticize extremist thoughts and fight terrorists who suffer from deep-rooted psychological and mental problems and whose minds have been poisoned.
That is why philosophy is important. We need to encourage students to think critically, ask questions about everything and form logical conclusions that should help them reach a state of balance. In 1991, a Norwegian intellectual and author named Jostein Gaarder published ‘Sophie’s World: A Novel about the History of Philosophy.” This book has been translated into many languages.
The novel tells the story of Sophie and a mysterious man named Alberto. It has become an indispensable introduction to philosophy because it sums up important philosophical issues using simple language and ideas.
Philosophical thinking has become a pressing need in this world that is replete with extremist conflicts that have brought about destruction and turned people’s lives into hell. It would help many of us analyze what is told to them and not to give in to extremist ideologies. It would build a generation of creative leaders.
Arabs have, throughout their history, not attached any importance to philosophy and focused instead on Arabic. We have erected barriers between philosophers and us, shunned them and treated them as enemies. It is unfair that students in schools are not taught philosophy.
