Should Classes in Philosophy be taught instead of History

[TeeBs]

I don't really have a story for this question, I saw a thread about which is more important math or history which got me thinking.

The major argument for teaching History, which most people believe doesn't teach us any real life skills is this, for those people who don't know history are doomed to repeat it. It makes sense but another quote, in which I am probably butchering because I don't know who said it or the exact wording, "History is written by the Victors" which to me means, it doesn't matter what idea is right or wrong, the stronger side wins. Learning history comes with a degree of bias, Liberals think JFK was the best president in the past 60 years while Conservatives would say Reagan.

Shouldn't we instead be teaching students to make there own decisions based on there own logic, maybe using history as a reference point, talking to them about what they would have done instead of what actually happened, Or are such tragic events such as the Holocaust too black and white that we should enforce the idea on students that there is no middle ground on any genocide that would be deemed acceptable.



Footnote: I do think genocides of all kinds are wrong, I was just using it as an example.

 

[Saxm13]

I rather enjoyed my History 12 class in high school. My teacher was super awesome in getting us to apply logic as well as personally opinion in past events and even in current events. He'd usually start the class with either some that happened to him recently, or talk about a news story that somehow relates to the current unit.

EDIT: Probably the most awkward thing in my life was having to discuss which was worse, the Holocaust or the japanese comfort women. -________- Probably the quietest class we've ever had. xD

 

[Distazo]

Its an interesting thought. Unfortunately, everything would always be biased, instead of by the perspective of the material they opinons of the instructor would probably come through.

Also, the use of logic and reason as moral guides is kind of a western philosophical thought and isn't universally accepted which in itself would be a bias towards the "victors"

 

[tomtom94]

Whether you teach history/philosophy is irrelevant. The important thing is that pupils are allowed to discuss the subject at hand and make their own conclusions rather than the "right" one.

 

[A random person]

Instead? No, history is important, don't be silly.

Alongside? Now that I'm all for. Frankly, I always thought middle school could use some philosophy (on a side note, I'd consider philosophy more of English's replacement than history's).

 

[Kapol]

That's actually a good point... I remember reading about a thing where the Texas schoolbooks were going to include very biased information. That information was accepted and those books are Texas schoolbooks are the standard for the US if I'm not mistaken. That means that it's heavily based on biased, which will be passed down. That's less of a problem I think with the internet though.

I guess if they combined the class, teaching not only about what happened but why it happened (sort of like teaching communism, the ideals of the nazi party and the consequences it had, etc.) then it could actually be really good and interesting.

 

[Substance-E]

Regardless of how you use the information, people should know how "we got to here".

Its the same reason kids need science classes. Most of them wont be scientists, but they should still know why things work the way they do....

 

[Wardnath]

Wait, you can't have both?

 

[Quicksilver_Phoenix]

Most kids can't grasp the idea of philosophical concepts anyway, so the time would be wasted on them.

History much easier, as it's more fact-based.

Keep history and make philosophy optional? I'm all for that.

 

[Ekonk]

Over here we have both.

Superior country I guess. YEAHHHHH- Although our recently spawned right-wing government will plunge us all into oblivion, dumb motherfuckers that they are.

EDIT: Actually, that sounds like a lot of fun. You could have them read Nietzsche and watch them all sink into a terrible depression! Suicide mobile AWAYYY. Seriously though that shit is depressing.

 

[SimuLord]

Here's a crazy idea. How about we focus on the Seven Classical Liberal Arts, teach critical thinking and meaningful discourse, and turn out better citizens rather than just teaching mindless automatons to regurgitate information to pass standardized tests?

Oh. Right. Because obedient little consumers and slaves are the real goal of American education---the ruling class needs the masses to be docile and stupid so they can line their own pockets without arising too much suspicion.

And the commoners are just as well to go along with it, because "my kid is an honor student, yay!" The parents are even dumber than the kids. Someone needs to get R. Lee Ermey into maternity wards to yell at new mothers "YOUR CHILD IS NOT SPECIAL! SHE IS JUST A LITTLE MAGGOT WHO WILL AMOUNT TO NOTHING UNTIL AND UNLESS SHE PROVES OTHERWISE!"

Then stick that demotivational poster that says "Not everyone gets to be an astronaut" with the picture of the order of fries on the wall of the kindergarten, bring back gifted and talented programs for the best students and fund the fuck out of them, at the expense of "special needs" classes for retards if you have to (how much money do you really need to spend on someone whose ceiling is McJanitor? We've got unmotivated smart kids in astounding quantity), and teach those kids to question any authority that would assert its mastery over them. Unless they're cute girls who go for dominant guys---gotta protect my brothers

Anyway, my point is this---if a kid's too dumb to grasp philosophy and history, get him into trade school and teach him how to do good, honest, hard work that he will find rewarding (this is Mike Rowe's cause celèbre in his MikeRoweWORKS program). And don't stigmatize the guy who fixes your car.

And the intellectual kids? The ones who will go on to colleges with higher admissions and graduation standards now that the "mommy and daddy said I need to get a degree" smacktards have been weeded out of the cultural zeitgeist as a side effect of this reorganization? Let them create and reward them well, whether they are in business, arts, or sciences.

 

[Dark Knifer]

History is fine and important. Wouldn't swap that. PDH would be a better choice since in my experience is just telling us not to do drugs... Because we totally don't hear that every else in the entire world...

 

[Count Igor]

I love History!
Besides, in R.S in my school we barely ever do real religion, it's pretty much all philosophy etc.

 

[Omikron009]

Why can't you teach philosophy and history? History 12 is currently my favourite class, and I would love to take a philosophy class as well.

 

[Syntax Man]

Actually, in Canada (or at least Alberta) you take "Social Studies" which is essencially a combination of philosophy and history taken together to foster a better understanding of both.

 

[FalloutJack]

Speaking as one who's gone through college and had a reasonable helping of both subjects, I do not believe that one can actually replace the other in totality.

...however, a bit more philosophy would enrich the minds of these impressionable youths.

 

[The Rockerfly]

I wish they taught us philosophy that didn't derive from religion. I believe it's because we are meant to be taught tolerance in a hope we can see their logic and join along the ranks

In fact I honestly believe that the government and the major corporations have a treaty that turns people into accepting the mainstream culture, information that is handed to them and to not question anything. Turning people into mindless drones that buy what they are told to buy and the government get money from the businesses and citizens that are completely brainwashed.
I have no reason to believe this then looking around and seeing the symptoms of people. Listening only to what's on the radio, when there is so much on the internet, watching terrible films, when you can get much better films for free and just generally people wanting to spend money on crap, rather then buying what they need

So yeah, call me mad, call me paranoid but just think about where I am coming from. We should be teaching kids life lessons, not useless skills such as religious view points