What the study found
The author argues that Philosophy for Children, also called Philosophy with Children, is valuable for helping young people think about the Anthropocene, but that its current form is too abstract and detached from ecological conditions. The proposed response is “Ecosophy with Children,” a reworking of P4C thinking systems to include mental, social, and environmental contexts.
Why the authors say this matters
The study suggests that adding an ecological dimension could help cultivate thinkers who can make ecosocial decisions under the material conditions of the Anthropocene. The author concludes that P4C should be resituated as a transversal community of philosophical inquiry that relates subjectivity to ecological contexts.
What the researchers tested
This is a conceptual research article based on argument rather than an empirical experiment. The author examines Philosophy for Children and proposes a broader framework called “Ecosophy with Children.”
What worked and what didn't
The abstract says P4C's emphasis on reason-based thinking, community reflection, and diverse perspectives is valuable. It also says the current inquiry setting—the text and the community of philosophical inquiry—does not adequately include ecological conditions, which the author presents as a limitation.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not report new data, participant outcomes, or a tested intervention. Its claims are presented as the author's argument, and the summary provided does not include further limitations beyond the stated concern about P4C's narrowness.
Key points
- The author says P4C is valuable for addressing questions raised by the Anthropocene.
- The abstract argues that P4C is too abstract and detached from ecological conditions.
- The proposed alternative is called “Ecosophy with Children.”
- The author describes this as a reterritorialization of P4C thinking systems.
- The framework is meant to relate participants' subjectivities to mental, social, and environmental contexts.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- P4C lacks an ecological dimension, the author argues
- Authors:
- Jonathan Wurtz
- Institutions:
- St. Mary's University, St. Mary's University, Texas
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-08
- DOI:
- 10.1111/edth.70088
- OpenAlex record:
- View
- Image credit:
- Loris.viezzer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Get the weekly research newsletter
Stay current with scholarly research without reading academic papers — one filtered digest, every Friday.