Thomas E. Wartenberg

A Sneetch is a Sneetch and Other Philosophical Discoveries (eBook, ePUB)

Finding Wisdom in Children's Literature

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

Taking Picture Books Seriously: What can we learn about philosophy through children's books? This warm and charming volume casts a spell on adult readers as it unveils the surprisingly profound philosophical wisdom contained in children's picture books, from Dr Seuss's Sneetches to William Steig's Shrek!. With a light touch and good humor, Wartenberg discusses the philosophical ideas in these classic stories, and provides parents with a practical starting point for discussing philosophical issues with their children. Accessible and multi-layered, it answers questions like, Is it okay for adults to deceive kids? What's the difference between saying the Mona Lisa is a great painting and vanilla is your favorite flavor? Each chapter includes illustrations commissioned especially for this book.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: John Wiley & Sons
• Seitenzahl: 176
• Erscheinungstermin: 28. Februar 2013
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781118545065
• Artikelnr.: 37757695

Autorenporträt

Thomas E. Wartenberg is Professor of Philosophy at Mount Holyoke College, USA. He founded the Teaching Children Philosophy program, which won the 2011 APA/PDC Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Philosophy Programs. Its website, www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org, receives tens of thousands of visits monthly. Professor Wartenberg's 13 books as author or editor include Big Ideas for Little Kids: Teaching Philosophy through Children's Literature (2009), Existentialism: A Beginner's Guide (2008), and The Philosophy of Film: Introductory Text and Readings (Wiley-Blackwell, 2005), which he co-edited with Angela Curran. He has been awarded Senior Fulbright Fellowships to Germany and New Zealand, as well as a National Endowment for the Humanities Research Fellowship. He has also directed two National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminars for School Teachers.

Inhaltsangabe

Acknowledgments ix
''Why? Why? Why?'': Children, Philosophy, and Picture Books 1
1 Harold and the Purple Crayon: Can You Get Wet Swimming in an Imaginary
Ocean? 7
2 The Important Book: Is a Leopard without Its Spots Still a Leopard? 16
3 Shrek!: Could a Dead Skunk Smell Good? 24
4 Let's Do Nothing!: Can You Just Do Nothing at All? 33
5 Knuffle Bunny: How Do You Know I'm Angry If I Don't Say So? 42
6 Many Moons: Do Experts Really Know More? 48
7 Yellow and Pink: Could Human Life Have Arisen Purely by Chance? 55
8 Morris the Moose: How Do You Know When You've Made a Mistake? 63
9 Emily's Art: What's the Difference between Saying the Mona Lisa Is a
Great Painting and Vanilla Is Your Favorite Flavor? 71
10 Miss Nelson Is Missing!: Is It Okay for Adults to Deceive Kids? 81
11 The Giving Tree: How Can It Be Wrong to Give Someone What They Want? 90
12 ''Cookies'': What Good Is Having Will-Power If You Don't Have Any More
Cookies? 100
13 Frederick: Can You Enjoy Doing Something Even If It's Work? 109
14 The Sneetches: Isn't It All Right to Discriminate in Choosing Your
Friends? 116
15 The Paper Bag Princess:What's Wrong with ''Living Happily Ever After''?
125
16 The Big Orange Splot: Is There Anything Wrong with Conformity? 132
Taking Picture Books Seriously 142
Who's Who: Thumbnail Biographies of the Philosophers 145
What's What: Key Philosophical Terms 156
Next Steps: Additional Philosophical Picture Books 160
More Next Steps: Digging Deeper into Philosophy 163

Rezensionen

"This is a great resource for those interested inpre-college philosophy and in elementary education, and for parentsgenerally. It also will be useful to upper-level philosophyand education students looking for novel approaches within theirdisciplines. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers." (Choice, 1 November 2013)

"Filled with humor and keen insights, A Sneetch is a Sneetchand other Philosophical Discoveries is essential reading foranyone with an interest in philosophy or children's literature -and by anyone, I mean anyone - from the mom or dad looking forsomething interesting to read to their toddler, to writers of everyilk, and yes, even full fledge, academically inclined philosophers.Happy pondering!!." (History in Review, 3 June2013)

"This is a wonderful book. Written with humor and clarity,it's a primer/refresher on philosophy and ethics. Wartenberg useschildren's books to tackle the kinds of profound questions kidsask: is it possible to do nothing? What makes a leopard a leopardand not a dog? How can it be wrong to give someone what they want?The book shows the way to discussions in the realm of ideas withyour kids, using their favorite picture books. Good picture booksprovoke good questions, and then the fun of thinking and talkingabout all the possible answers."

--Mordicai Gerstein, Caldecott winning author of The ManWho Walked Between the Towers

"Wartenberg simultaneously shows the philosophical seriousnessof children's literature and the childlike wonder of philosophy.Completely convincing and utterly charming."

--Claudia Mills, Philosophy Department, University ofColorado at Boulder, and award-winning children's book author