UofL Philosophy Slam Opens Doors to Inquiry and Critical Thinking for Louisville High Schoolers
Nov. 13, 2024
By Stephanie Godward, Communications and Marketing Director, College of Arts & Sciences
Sophie Fabing’s experience in Atherton High School’s Philosophy Club has allowed her to discuss ideas with peers, many of whom see things differently, challenging her to expand her own way of thinking, consider alternative perspectives, and to grow on a personal level.
Now a senior in high school considering studying math, physics, and Spanish at the college level, Fabing is preparing to participate in UofL’s Philosophy Slam event next week.
"Preparing for the Philosophy Slam has pushed me to consider questions I hadn’t previously explored,” Fabing states. “Each team member brings unique ideas, which helps me see the prompt from multiple perspectives, rather than just my initial interpretation. This has deepened my understanding and has made me more flexible in my thinking.”
During the Philosophy Slam at UofL, high school students will explore philosophical concepts in real time as the event aims to democratize access to the process of inquiry and critical thinking involved in this ancient yet ever relevant humanities discipline.
“Most philosophers think that everyone is a natural philosopher,” said Philosophy Professor John Gibson. “We want to empower students to see that philosophy is a way of enabling them to think about the world that's applied and that's engaged and deals with questions of perennial interest. It is a way of speaking and thinking about the world that happens in the moment rather than a set of old texts that one just studies passively.”
The Philosophy Slam takes place on World Philosophy Day, November 21, in the Belknap Academic Building. This year, teams from three Louisville high schools will participate. Each team has 10 minutes to present their response to a philosophical prompt, demonstrating the active engagement of philosophy with deep, traditional questions.
Topics include the nature of the self, the relationship between knowledge and art, political philosophy, meaning in life, and ethics. But students are not just given topics; instead, they choose from a list of profound, thought-provoking insights from figures like Desmond Tutu and Simone de Beauvoir. The students then put their own spin on these insights, joining a conversation with the original sources, and making these ideas their own.
Ella Ross, a senior at Atherton High School, is a co-president of the Philosophy Club who plans to study environmental science and the humanities in college.
"I hope that this year’s Philosophy Slam can show other kids like myself that there is a group in Louisville that does have an interest in philosophy, and how important it is to follow this interest and create groups in schools that don’t already have large numbers of philosophy students like Atherton does,” Ross states. “This ultimately is what I think is the goal of these events, because not only are they fun, they are also important for the community.”
Undergraduate UofL students who are members of the Philosophy Club will hand out a variety of awards including best pop culture reference, best example, best argument, best philosophical save, and best philosophical community-builder.
Fabing is most excited to hear how other teams from different schools approach the prompts, and for the discussions that will follow each presentation.
“I find that open-floor discussions often introduce new ideas or shift my perspective on the prompt, which I really enjoy,” Fabing said. “I think the Philosophy Slam could inspire other high school students by showing them how different perspectives can encourage them to think more deeply about philosophical issues.”
Philosophy Department Chair Avery Kolers said another goal of the slam is to break down misconceptions around the study of philosophy itself.
“It's not the property of some rarefied group; it’s something that students can access,” he said. “Enabling people to see themselves as capable of and as engaged already in doing philosophy is really important so that people aren't scared off by the very idea of it.”
William Tucker, a UofL alumnus (`04, English and French) now teaching the Theory of Knowledge course at Atherton High School, also sponsors the Philosophy Club there.
“The class helps students use their curiosity to build a better understanding of the world, so the Philosophy Slam is a natural fit for our students,” Tucker said. “The Slam offers high school students the chance to be on a college campus, to take part in an actual collegiate event with students who are philosophical and curious about the world just as they are. Building a partnership with UofL has been great for us and has helped my students see their potential as future college students and thinkers.”
The value of the skills obtained from engaging in philosophical discussions will help the students to grow intellectually and open pathways for them to consider their future collegiate and professional options.
“This isn't arcane or inaccessible subject matter, and it's directly contributing to developing critical thinking skills that are absolutely practical and involved in almost any important activity that a student will engage in in their professional and public life,” Kolers said.
Tucker said he looks forward to the growth students will experience as a result of this event.
“I hope students have a fun and meaningful evening where they can interface with peers, UofL students, and the professors who will help everyone have a better understanding of philosophy as we all work together to build a more thoughtful world,” Tucker states.
For many participating students – and their parents – the end result will also involve a transformation in how they view themselves or their children.
"When parents come to the Philosophy Slam and see their children engaging with complex ideas, they become champions of the project,” Gibson said. “They recognize the value of studying the liberal arts, seeing their kids as young intellectuals.”
