THINKING AND EXPERIENCE AT SCHOOL: WALKING BETWEEN TRAINING, RESEARCH AND EXTENSION FROM PHILOSOPHY TO / WITH CHILDREN

Abstract

We start from the idea that philosophy is a practice and way of life from which all people can approach. This understanding brings us closer to the theoretical and practical proposal elaborated by the American philosopher Matthew Lipman in the twentieth century, precisely in the late 1960s and introduced in Brazil in 1980. We base ourselves in Lipman's studies, and later with our approach to studies and practices in development in Brazil by Professor Walter Omar Kohan, which point to the re-elaboration of Lipman's philosophy proposal for children, converting it into a philosophy "with" children. Kohan's proposal differs from Lipman's proposal, especially for not presenting a pre-defined curriculum, constituting in a more open way of composing, with the participation of children, thinking experiences. In this sense, we have asked ourselves, from the activities under development in research projects and extension: is it possible to do philosophy with children? Such a question has moved us and approached us to experience various attempts at studies and practices / doings of philosophy for / with children in the university and in public and private schools in the municipality of Caicó / RN. The proposal of this text is to present and at the same time reflect on the path taken by the activities of training, research and extension in development through the Licentiate Degree in Philosophy of Caicó / UERN / RN, involving the theme of philosophy for / with children in the period from 2008 to 2018.