When I analyse the curriculum in England, there is something missing. Something I hold to be incredibly important in my heart and my mind. It’s glaring by its omission. The hollowness at the heart of the curriculum is: philosophy. 

Why isn’t philosophy taught? We teach students what to think and how to memorise a wide range of facts in a knowledge rich curriculum (one which has been proven to not be fit for purpose during the Covid-19 pandemic), but we don’t teach children how to think. 

Now that last clause was a little vague — so what do I mean by ‘thinking’? I mean higher thought, the ability to question, challenge, be independent, be skeptical, to know the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning, to be a fully conscious citizen of the society in which we reside. Time and time again, employers state that students come out of an educational process whereby they can not think for themselves, where they lack essential communication skills (speaking and listening, reading and writing).

Surely, wouldn’t the study of philosophy help with this? When adults get home after the drudgery of the 9-5, a lot of them go onto the internet and enjoy a lively discussion or debate, which is underpinned by philosophical skills. Also, to be clear, although critical thinking skills are inherent to philosophy, I genuinely think they transcend ‘critical thinking’, which seems to be a diluted form of philosophy via the backdoor for bourgeois university students at red brick universities.

As an educationalist, one of the most endearing aspects of my role is that I deal with the curiosity of children. It is truly endearing. So, why do many adults lack that trait? Is it socialised out of us — are British citizens too repressed as we live in a reserved and closed culture?

The French have a far more open attitude and they actively study philosophy in high school? Is there a causality here, or am I simplifying one case very, very dangerously?

There is also a class divide,gap and gulf when it comes to the study of philosophy. Many politicians study Philosophy, Politics and Economics — they are reared for leadership from their Etonian ivory towers. Philosophy is deemed worthy to be one third of what is required in a degree which is focused upon developing political leadership in this country, but it is the reserve of bourgeois elites, whilst the proletariat are given an entirely different diet altogether.

Where do children from state schools, from impoverished backgrounds, get to access philosophy on their curriculum? Well, they don’t, unless they are very, very lucky to access it at ‘A’ level (the 16-18 year old path for ‘academic’ students in the UK). Most students just won’t get this opportunity. I find this an incredible shame — this isn’t because I hate other subject disciplines (history, literature and theology can tackle weighty topics). It’s because philosophy covers such a wide range of topics, and its explicit aim is to be a lover of wisdom (philo = love, sophos = wisdom, philo+sophos = a lover of wisdom).

Society could do with a few more wise minds, I am sure we could all agree.

If we want to create a society where politicians are elected for their policies, and not whether they look good whilst eating a bacon sandwich, then philosophy would be integral to our curriculum. If we want a society whereby its citizens could organise and hold its government to account over sound arguments, instead of glibly being fooled by populist faux patriotic propaganda, then philosophy is utterly necessary.

Philosophy is a subject which has been accused of being overly cerebral, abstract and head in the clouds but this is something I would refute: we live in a world which is ever more cerebral, ever more abstract…a world full of information, which has undergone revolution after revolution (violent, industrial and technological), a world which lives in the zeitgeist of ever accelerating change.

The main job which men all of the world do right now is drive. However, we all know that the age of the driverless car is coming — we all know that jobs once carried out by humans are being mechanised. Go to any supermarket, airport or bank and you will see machines which have replaced cashiers and passport officials. Also, computers will become so sophisticated that human labour will be increasingly replaced in a variety of ways. This entails that humans will need to think in increasingly complex ways (as long as the current capitalist system continues to exist in its current form, or at least something similar, whereby human needs are not met and a tiny minority has the disproportionate majority of power and capital).

A brave new world of philosopher kings and queens would be ready to change global systems with their gifted thinking skills and the real world application of philosophy. Marx once said that ‘The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it’. To add some context, Marx was referring to philosophers prior to him, but Plato (in his Republic), Boethius (in his Consolation of Philosophy)  and Machiavelli (in The Prince) did change the world in the spheres of government and mental resilience.

The current government claims to desire a meritocracy, but they are anything but. Universally privileged, private school educated, and Etonian, they seem to be manufactured from a narrow social class which seems to think they have a manifest destiny in their right to govern. There is a genuine distance between them and the general public. Most of it is social network and the old boys club, but a key factor is the education they receive and the value philosophy has in their circles. They have an access to a way of thinking which the general public do not and it allows them to engage in sophistry which allows them to escape the responsibility of their position. 

If we want to build a better society, one which improves, is able to problem solve, has active, curious and engaged citizens, if we want to see wisdom prevail, if we want a wiser, better world, then it is time to engage our children with an education rich in philosophy. Or, we can continue with the same madness we have right now, whereby rich elites control society with their undeserved privilege.