Definition of Philosophy

Are Standardized Tests Friend or Foe?

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Are standardized tests the best for students? This is a question most educators are asking themselves. In recent years, it has been found that while the intention of standardized testing was noble, the reality is that students are suffering from it rather than learning from it.

There are several patterns emerging that show how some students are benefitting and how some are not. New York state public schools report that the Black and Hispanic demographics score the lowest compare to their White and Asian peers in math. Also, those in that are from low-income homes are getting scores up to 20% lower than their classmates in standardized tests. It does seem strange that tests designed to be fair and equal to all are showing these results, making demarcations among various demographics.

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Philosophy for Kids

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“Since philosophy is the art which teaches us how to live, and since children need to learn it as much as we do at other ages, why do we not instruct them in it?” ~ Michel De Montaigne On Education 1533-1592

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Instructing children in philosophy is exactly what Philosopher Leighton Evans and The Philosophy Shop intends to do. Leighton Evans is seeking to get primary schools in the UK to see not only the usefulness but also the feasibility of teaching kids to think philosophically. According to Philosophy Shop advantages to children will include “raised IQ, raised self-confidence and improved emotional intelligence.” As for the question of feasibility, though it may seem unlikely that kids from 7 to 11 years old will understand the principles of philosophy, Evans says that their age group is actually “well suited to this type of thinking. They are not burdened by the subject knowledge they are going to gain through school.” Furthermore, according to Dr Ieuan Williams children are “natural philosophers in that they ask important questions about the world and about human life and morality.” Thus their natural curiosity combined with their open-mindedness makes them ideal for thinking outside the box.

Philosophy Shop is not going to be the one conducting philosophy classes to kids but instead trains the teachers/philosophers how to use philosophy methods in the classroom and thus encourage a philosophical attitude among children.

Does Higher Education Make Any Difference?

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We see a lot of people taking up higher studies. Normally these are the additional vocational degrees or the professional schools we know as Masters degrees. While not all people can have the time or afford to get into them, being adjudged a certified MBA degree holder logically holds a brighter future for anyone. Or does it?

For one, the philosophical hypothesis that most MBA graduates hold are often for the better in any business perspective. Advanced education often holds that people with MBA degrees are seasoned and adequately trained to handle real life issues in the world of business and management. But while that is something expected today, it seems that the surplus of MBA degree holders has been somewhat overflowing, making it a standoff as far as choosing the right person with the right degree to handle a business that wants to follow a certain route.

Especially now that most companies are experiencing a lot of turbulence in the business world, one cannot help but think if MBA degree holders still have a bearing in business entities. Are they a need at this point?

From the way things are going, it seems business can function without them. It is either that or companies are just trying to preserve their salary caps since MBA degree holders will be asking for the stars.

With that in mind, does the MBA philosophy make any sense? Why take up advanced professional studies if they are no longer recognized in the field of business? Maybe for entrepreneurs it is a requirement but as far as career is concerned, a lot of questions on why they should take an MBA degree is in the air.

Politics and the Law

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These are totally unrelated areas of study in philosophy yet they are somewhat similar due to their aim, the study of force. Politics is the study of how political force in relation to the general public and Legal Law is the study of how to best laws can be used to achieve social and political aims. The two are often mixed and used in conjunction with each other because of this simple truth.Continue Reading