PLATO regularly runs intergenerational ethics and philosophy events. These include programs for students and family members (example here) and for seniors and young people (example here).

We believe that ethics and philosophy are for everyone. We hope to provide resources and spaces for people of all ages to engage together with some of life’s deepest questions. In a world increasingly spatially and socially segregated by age, it is more important than ever to do so in an intergenerational way. 

The structure for these events begins with a brief description of PLATO and philosophy with young people. We then introduce a prompt that is appropriate for a wide variety of age groups and provokes thinking about a difficult ethics question. Following the prompt, we facilitate a discussion in much the same way we do in classrooms around the country — first in small, mixed-age groups with a discussion leader, and then in a whole group conversation.

These programs empower families to engage philosophically with their students at home — while reading, doing chores around the house, or any time a deep question arises — and provide an opportunity for participants to expand their insights into the perspectives of other generations. 

These events are free, open to the public, and located in accessible community locations (such as libraries, universities, and public schools).

For more information, contact info@plato-philosophy.org.

How to Organize an Intergenerational Philosophy Event:

• Think about what groups you would like to have in conversation with one another. Some possibilities include:
  • Retirees and high school students
  • K-12 students and parents and/or grandparents
  • High school students with K-5 students
• Find and partner with local groups who serve these populations. For example:
  • Retirement/elder care facilities
  • Local organizations for retired people
  • Local K-12 schools
  • Religious communities
  • Philosophy clubs at middle and high schools
  • Ethics bowl teams at local middle and high schools
• Select a location that is convenient for most people who will participate.
  • Public libraries
  • Public schools
  • Community centers
  • Senior centers
  • Someplace with easy parking, transit access, and that is accessible for people with disabilities
• Find volunteers familiar with facilitating communities of philosophical inquiry to lead small groups
  • Ideally, you want one volunteer per table of 6-8 participants so that someone can help guide and facilitate the conversation at the tables.
• Choose someone to be the lead facilitator for the event.
  • This should be someone with significant experience leading communities of philosophical inquiry.
• Choose the prompt for your discussion.
  • Ethics Bowl cases (excellent for intergenerational philosophy sessions with older students and adults)
  • Picture books
  • Songs, poems, art, activities, etc.
  • For inspiration, see the PLATO Toolkit and Literature Library
• On the day of the event:
  • Pre-arrange who will sit at each table group. Make sure to have a good balance of participants from each age range.
  • Have name tags for participants.
  • Serve some light snacks/beverages.
  • Have available for everyone copies of the prompt, if applicable.
• At the event:
  
  • The lead facilitator welcomes everyone and gives an overall description of the event plan and goals.
  • The lead facilitator (or someone else) reads the prompt aloud.
  • Each table is then asked to spend the next 30-40 minutes discussing the prompt and the questions it raises for the participants.
  • The lead facilitator walks around the room monitoring how each table is doing, offering ideas and questions where helpful.
  • The group comes back together for a whole group discussion, led by the lead facilitator.

Suggestions for a successful event:

• Choose your prompt carefully.
  • You want something that can generate discussion across generations, so the prompt needs to be something to which both groups can connect. For example, social media ethics might not work for a group consisting of high school students and retirees.
• Set clear expectations of how to do philosophy together.
  • The goal is a discussion, not telling people how they should think or trying to teach them about the topic.
  • Listen carefully, share ideas respectfully, ask for clarification when necessary.
  • Discuss in the spirit of curiosity and wonder.
  • All participants have something valuable to contribute whether they are 5 years old or 80 years old.
• It’s best to have a person trained in facilitating communities of philosophical inquiry sitting with each group of participants. These volunteers help guide the conversation and gently redirect participants who may dominate the discussion, try to “educate” others out of a perceived misunderstanding, or hastily dismiss others’ ideas.
  
  
• Do a wrap up at the end, summarizing what was discussed, where the conversation went, and offering people a question or thought to take with them as they leave.

Created nearly thirty years ago in a college classroom by philosophy professor  Robert Ladenson, the Ethics Bowl now involves thousands of students across the country and the world. Ethics Bowl is a collaborative yet competitive event, similar to debate but different. Teams do not take adversarial positions but rather work together to analyze and clarify ethical issues. Ethics Bowl prepares students to appreciate the virtues of living in a deliberative democracy and nurtures habits of mind that strengthen local, national, and global citizenship.

Teams of students are presented with a series of wide-ranging ethical dilemmas, and they prepare responses to the cases in advance. During the Bowl, teams are judged on the quality and depth of their ethical and practical reasoning, including their ability to present coherent arguments and recognize and consider likely objections to those arguments. Teams are also evaluated on their ability to engage in ethical discussion while maintaining a collegial, respectful tone.

“The Ethics Bowl has prepared me to go into a conversation ready to have my mind changed.”
– Seattle high school student

• Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl (APPE IEB)
• National High School Ethics Bowl (NHSEB)
• Middle School Ethics Bowl

“I think exposure to ethical problem solving makes for wiser, more thoughtful and civic minded teens.”
– Parent of High School Ethics Bowl student