What is a ‘Community of Inquiry'?

Abstract

When we speak about the aim of doing philosophy on the elementary school level with children as transforming classrooms into ‘communities of inquiry’, we make certain assumptions about nature and personhood and the relationship between the two. We also make certain assumptions about dialogue, truth and knowledge. Further, we make assumptions regarding the ability of children to form such communities that will engender care for one another as persons with rights, a tolerance for each other's views, feelings, imaginings, creations as well as a care for one another's happiness equal to the concern one has for one's own happiness. Lastly, we make assumptions about children's ability to commit themselves to objectivity, impartiality, consistency and reasonableness. The latter has social, moral and political implications. This paper is an attempt to identify and clarify some of these assumptions.

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Notes on contributors

Ann Margaret Sharp

Dr. Ann Margaret Sharp is Director of the Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children Graduate Programs, and Associate Director, IAPC, Montclair State College, Upper Montclair, New Jersey 07043, USA.