The Philosophy Foundation - thinking changes

The Philosophy Shop

"The Philosophy Shop is on a mission to bring philosophy into our schools. This book brilliantly shows how accessible philosophy is, and how fun and mind-expanding it can be, for any ages."

Jules Evans, author of Philosophy for Life and Other Dangerous Situations.

"This book should get anyone thinking."

Nigel Warburton, The Open University, Philosophy Bites podcast

Edited by Peter Worley, with contributions from A.C. Grayling, Angie Hobbs, Peter Cave, Peter Adamson, Anja Steinbauer, Roger Sutcliffe, and many more, The Philosophy Shop is jam-packed with ideas to get anyone thinking philosophically. For use in the classroom, after school clubs, philosophy departments, philosophy groups or even for the lone reader, this book will appeal to anyone who likes to think. Each example acts like a Japanese Haiku with a European flavour. Take it on journeys and dip in; use it as a classroom starter activity, or full philosophical enquiry – you could even use it to steer dinner party or family Christmas discussions away from the same old topics.

"Very impressed, I've just started a philosophy based scheme of learning for my year nines next year, and this book will be a massive part of that. The 'works well with' suggestions for each exercise make translating the ideas in the book into a well structured sequence of lessons a joy. I completely agree that introducing core philosophical issues to students with a 'hook' that grabs them is the best way to approach the subject. I do the same with my A level groups and it enthuses them to approach the core issue in creative ways. You then get a second bout of learning when they compare their own approach to those of famous philosophers. A very practical tool for RE teachers."

Ian Tustin, Wadham School

Order The Philosophy Shop here at a discounted rate of £14.99 (RRP £18.99)

Thoughtings: Puzzles, Problems and Paradoxes in Poetry to Think With

"This may look like a book - but in fact, it's a portal; a gateway into the boundless possibilities of the mind's perspectives, and stepping through it in the company of your pupils could enrich both your experience of their learning and theirs immeasurably."

Helen Mulley, Teach Primary Magazine, Issue 6.8

"This collection of poems is very, very irritating. It's irritating like having toast crumbs in your bed. It's irritating like having toast crumbs in your brain..."

Michael Rosen, poet and former Children's Laureate writes in the Foreword.

"A stimulating and imaginative range of catalysts to thought."

Nigel Warburton, The Open University, Philosophy Bites podcast

"If you want to do some thinking aerobics and some brain gymnastics then this is the book for you. I always thought Philosophy and poetry were linked by more than the letter P - and this book proves it!”

Ian McMillan, poet, broadcaster and comedian

Not many people would link Philosophy and poetry, arguing they involve very different sorts of intellectual processes and are of course never taught together to British schoolchildren. This Philosophy-Poetry collection, Thoughtings: Puzzles, Problems and Paradoxes in Poetry to Think With sets out to prove there is a connection – and one that can help youngsters, too. Poet and former children’s laureate Michael Rosen, writer of the Foreword to the new collection, describes the book as “Like having toast crumbs in your brain” – an image that brilliantly captures the essence of these thought-provoking contents. The poems and puzzles are accompanied by a series of questions to encourage children to explore key Philosophical ideas contained in the poems; all have been field-tested in the primary and early secondary classroom by Worley and his team. Thoughtings also includes a full poetry-inspired Philosophy lesson plan which serves as an introduction to the subject to interested teachers. Thoughtings is perfect for teachers who want to introduce some Philosophy in to their classroom and for intellectually curious youngsters everywhere.

“Getting toast crumbs out of your bed is fun. They jump up and down. Some of them refuse to be swept out. Some of them find new places to hide. Some invite you to nibble them. Getting toast crumbs out of your mind is just like that too.”

Michael Rosen's foreword for Thoughtings.

Order Thoughtings: Puzzles, Problems and Paradoxes in Poetry to Think With here for a discounted rate of £10.99 (RRP £12.99)

The If Odyssey

"Anything that inspires people to think and to understand how to think is a great boon. This book is just such a boon, and a great addition to the Worley assault on unthinkingness."

A. C. Grayling, Master of the New College of the Humanities

“What Peter has achieved with The If Odyssey is nothing short of genius! As a secondary school teacher of English, Theories of Knowledge and Philosophy, I find this book an irreplaceable resource. Not only does it present the teacher with crucial pedagogical instruction, but with a systematic programme in how to cultivate the requisite skills of storytelling. Moreover, he synthesises, with clarity and precision, how to relate key philosophical concepts to each of the stories from The Odyssey. Simply brilliant!"

Mark C. Blythe, teacher and postgraduate researcher in Philosophy of Education, Institute of Education, Reading University

The If Odyssey: A Philosophical Journey Through Greek Myth and Storytelling for 8 - 16-Year-Olds, uses Homer’s classic Odyssey to introduce children to Philosophy, by drawing out the intellectual puzzles that lie behind many of the episodes in Odysseus’ long voyage home after the Trojan Wars. It is a fantastic way to introduce children not only to these exciting fables but also to that other great Ancient Greek legacy for world culture, Philosophy.

The book, following in the same pattern as its groundbreaking predecessor The If Machine: Philosophical Enquiry in the Classroom [Bloomsbury Education, 2011]), is perfect for teachers wanting to introduce Philosophy into their classroom and to explore Ancient Greek language, myth and culture. 

Few feel comfortable telling the stories of Greek myth in their unexpurgated form, arguing that they express values at odds with our own.  But this unique teaching resource sets out to prove their value and relevance as a rich source of philosophical ideas. Concepts explored in The If Odyssey include the value of happiness, just-war theory, non-existent entities, moral dilemmas, what is prophecy, the nature of love, free-will, heroism, personal identity, and more besides. The book sets out session plans and includes tips on storytelling skills to bring The Odyssey to life and stimulate independent, critical thinking with children (8-16). The book also has workshops on the Ancient Greek language and how it relates to our own. An online section enhances the book with dialogues that help the children explore the philosophy behind the sessions themselves, maps of Odysseus’ journey, a poem called ‘The Words of Tiresias’ that offers clues to Odysseus’ progress and Ancient Greek language worksheets. 

Invaluable as a resource for Matthew Lipman’s P4C ‘Community of Enquiry’ method trained teachers, as well as for teachers or Philosophers trained in The Philosophy Foundations proprietary PhiE teaching method, the book is also perfect for teachers who want to introduce some Philosophy in to their classroom and for intellectually curious youngsters everywhere.  

“Brilliantly thought-provoking, The If Odyssey'hooks you from the start and draws you in as cleverly, compellingly and seemingly effortlessly as if it had been put together by the ‘wily’ Odysseus himself. This is philosophy at its most approachable.”

David Stuttard, writer and classical historian, author of Power Games

“Using the adventures of Odysseus as the basis for my classes' exploration of philosophy was a masterstroke. From the first session exploring the language of Ancient Greece through to the last, my class were engaged and motivated during debates. The children have no doubt benefited from immersing themselves in the myths, language and history of this bygone culture.” 

Tom Weddell, Year 5 teacher John Ball Primary School, Lewisham, South London

Order The If Odyssey here for a discounted rate of £14.99 (RRP £17.99)

The If Machine: Philosophical Enquiry in the Classroom

"The best book of its kind currently available, an invaluable resource for teachers wanting to try out some philosophy in their classrooms and a significant contribution to educational theory. Buy it!"

Dr Michael Hand, Reader of Philosophy, Institute of Education London

"One of the most striking things about this book is its intellectual rigour, its grounding in the work of real philosophers and its implicit belief that children will respond to big and important ideas if they are simply given the opportunity and their discussion is appropriately focused."

TES Magazine (rated 9/10) Read the full review here: Big Questions for Little People

The If Machine is a rich resource of ‘guided philosophy sessions’ containing many stories, both original and classic, aimed at developing higher order thinking through the activity of philosophy. Many of the stories are based on classic philosophical thought experiments but have been re-written in order to make them accessible to children in primary and early secondary school. The stories have a series of accompanying questions that have been tried and tested in the classroom with a wide variety of age groups. There is also instruction and guidance on how to approach doing philosophy in the classroom based on years of experience of running and devising philosophy sessions. The overall aim of the book is to provide teachers with a thorough list of strategies for encouraging higher order thinking in their students that can be used in any education setting, and to realise the philosophical potential of primary school age children introducing them to the practice of real philosophy and the kind of thinking that philosophy engenders.

"This is a timely and valuable contribution: a capacity to think critically is the key component of any education, and Worley is an inventive enhancer of children's ability to think for themselves."

A. C. Grayling, Master of the New College of the Humanities

“Peter Worley has produced a lucid and well-thought through resource that should have children entertained and educated at the same time.”

Dr Stephen Law, Senior Lecturer in philosophy at Heythrop College,and Editor of ‘Think’, the Royal Institute of Philosophy Journal

Download free sample chapters

Order The If Machine here for a discounted rate of £14.99 (RRP £17.99)