Arab Educational Information Network

This brief article aims to point out that although there have been implementations of ’Philosophy for Children’ (P4C) programs in Lebanon, these experiences have not yet received systematic study or scientific evaluation. The article begins by reviewing the role of the ’Philosophical Thinking for Children’ program founded by Matthew Lipman, which aims to develop children’s critical and creative thinking skills. It then traces the global spread of the program and the diversity of studies that have examined it in terms of its components, methods of implementation, reasons for adoption, and the outcomes of those studies — outcomes that could provide solutions to a number of educational and social challenges. This program has been implemented in several Arab countries, including Lebanon, but it has not yet undergone a comprehensive study evaluating its results or examining its effectiveness in various educational contexts. (Published abstract)