Platonic attitude at CBS Mitchelstown
When the internet was first introduced to our lives, it promised a world of different viewpoints, experiences, and exchange of ideas - a Utopia of knowledge. Fast-forward to an age of mindless Facebook and Twitter rage, cancel culture, and an age of mistrust and misinformation. What to do?
No fear, as there is at least one cohort of considered free-thinkers left, and they are nestled away in CBS, Mitchelstown. Led by teacher Michelle O’Keeffe, the opportunity to study Philosophy is provided to second, third and TY students in the school, and is an aspect of the subject Politics and Society at Leaving Cert level. The class encourages discourse, contrasting the discussion to the form of debate. Students from nearby Presentation Secondary School are also welcome to partake in the class and a handful do so.
Students are led to consider other viewpoints, to state the basis for their belief and explore the theories underpinning their beliefs. Michelle explains the ethos of the teaching.
“The Philosophy class can be intellectually abstract, but the students are not allowed to speak over one another. Critical thinking is something I’ve always focused on, and while they don’t often veer from their original opinion, they do consider all the other arguments.”
‘ARGUING IN A CIVILISED MANNER’
The students practice what they preach; even as five of them are speaking with The Avondhu about the subject, all are self-assured and well-spoken and able to express their views in a clear, intelligible manner that would shame any political spokesperson.
Philosophy is often maligned as a joke subject in western countries. However, it teaches considered thought, discourse, nuance and logic. These tools are invaluable in every single aspect of life, not least on the internet. Freedom of speech is what is being discussed when we debate Jimmy Carr’s recent treatment of the Holocaust on Netflix. Responsibility versus freedom of expression is what underpins discourse about Joe Rogan and his responsibility - or lack thereof.
Of course, the big debate for two years has been mask-wearing and vaccines. Straight from that, to a war in Ukraine, is a tough period to handle. The Philosophy class, says Michelle, gives the students space to think.
“We explored philosophical concepts in real time: for example, doctors take the Hippocratic oath, and that is Kantian. However, when hospitals are deciding who would have the oxygen, it was utilitarianism in the decision-making. This class allows them space to approach topics and use their learning in a tangible way to talk about current events.”
TRUSTWORTHY NEWS SOURCES
The students are astute in their evaluation of the news that’s being fed to them, finding social media particularly problematic but say that almost every newspaper and TV channel has a bias - except, of course, The
Avondhu!
“News should be information just presented, but instead there’s a bias. Particularly American news channels - they try to put an agenda in your mind. It’s never a good thing to just show one side of an argument; a more varied perspective is always beneficial. It’s very idealistic to think you would hear the full story.”
They agree that the old reliable, RTÉ, is considered by many to be the most trustworthy, having that reputation historically. Another astute observation is that misinformation is dangerous - but silence on an issue is worse. And where do they get their news?
“Probably RTÉ, and then look at BBC or something like that as well. Then read a smaller newspaper that maybe has the opposite viewpoint - multiple sources. It’s poor practice, generally, to get your news from one source. It’s like buying a car - you’re not going to just see what the manufacturer says about it!”
One of the boys describes their discussions as ‘arguing in a civilised manner, allowing you to see it from other perspectives.’
There’s no doubt that, whether or not these young thinkers pursue Philosophy past second level, they already have the skills to steer them safely through any diplomatic or intellectual setting - and perhaps will set the course for the next era of public conversation.