Book Talk: Gareth B. Matthews, The Child's Philosopher, with Megan Laverty and Maughn Gregory

Please join Megan Jane Lavery and Maughn Rollins Gregory for a presentation of their latest book,  Gareth B. Matthews, The Child's Philosopher (Routledge, 2023).

"Winner of the 2022 Book Award of the Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia, Gareth B. Matthews, The Child's Philosopher brings together groundbreaking essays by renowned American philosopher Gareth B.　Matthews in three fields he helped to initiate: philosophy in children’s literature, philosophy for children, and philosophy of childhood. In addition, contemporary scholars critically assess Matthews’ pioneering efforts and his legacy.

Gareth B. Matthews (1929-2011) was a specialist in ancient and medieval philosophy who had conversations with young children, discovering that they delight in philosophical puzzlement and that their philosophical thinking often enriched his own understanding. Those conversations became the impetus for a substantial component of Matthews’ scholarship, from which this book features essays spanning the length of his career. Contemporary contributors to the book critically evaluate Matthews’ scholarship, showing where he broke new ground and identifying developments and debates in the fields he helped to initiate. They take up pressing challenges, including biased idealizations of childhood in children’s literature; the tensions between teaching philosophy to, and doing philosophy with young people; the merits of theorizing childhood without theorizing children; and　how professional philosophy at once desires and resists a return to childhood.

This second volume in the Philosophy for Children Founders series is an important resource for philosophers,　educators, and anyone interested in children’s philosophical thinking, developmental psychology, what it means to philosophize with children, the nature of childhood, and how children’s literature goes philosophical. It will guide and inspire those who share Matthews’ conviction that the impulse to philosophize begins in early childhood.

Contributors (in addition to Gareth B. Matthews): Stephanie Burdick-Shepherd, Cristina Cammarano, Claire Cassidy, Stanley Cavell, Maughn Rollins Gregory, Jennifer Glaser, Walter Omar Kohan, Megan Jane Laverty, Jana Mohr Lone, Karin Murris, Peter Shea, Susan M. Turner, Susannah Sheffer."

-- publisher's description

Megan Jane Laverty is a Professor of Philosophy and Education and Director of the Philosophy and Education Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Together with Maughn Rollins Gregory,  she edits the Philosophy for Children Founders series, including In Community with Ann Margaret Sharp: Childhood, Philosophy and Education (Routledge, 2017). Dr. Laverty received her Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Melbourne and her Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of New South Wales. She taught in the Philosophy Department at the University of Melbourne before starting as Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations at Montclair State University (MSU) in 2000. Megan Laverty arrived at Teachers College in 2005.

Maughn Rollins Gregory is a Professor of Educational Foundations at Montclair State University. Together with Megan Jane Laverty, he edits the Philosophy for Children Founders series, including In Community with Ann Margaret Sharp: Childhood, Philosophy and Education (Routledge, 2017).Dr. Gregory holds a JD and a PhD in philosophy. He publishes and teaches in the areas of philosophy of education, Philosophy for Children, pragmatism, gender, Socratic pedagogy and contemplative pedagogy. He is co-editor of the Routledge International Handbook of Philosophy for Children (Routledge 2018) and has edited a number of special journal issues on Philosophy for Children. He is currently serving as the inaugural Research Coordinator for the International Council of Philosophical Inquiry with Children. Dr. Gregory served as Visiting Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University in 2008 where he taught the doctoral course, "Educational Debates in Philosophical Perspectives.”

Where: 305 Russell

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