Paul Castles

Jana Mohr Lone is PLATO’s Executive Director. I Am Henry Finch by Alexis Deacon (illustrations by Viviane Schwarz) tells the story of Henry, a member of a community of finches, all of whom think and act alike. The flock is always together, and they do the same things, day after day. They are never quiet; … I Am Henry Finch: Identity, Courage, and Thinking for Yourself

Peter Fristedt is a member of PLATO’s Academic Advisory Board. He holds a PhD in philosophy from Stony Brook University and has published scholarship on ethics, Continental philosophy, and the philosophy of history.  I recently had the opportunity to attend a screening of the new documentary film “The Bowl,” from Ethereal Films and filmmaker Eli … “The Bowl” – A New Documentary Showcases High School Ethics Bowl

Karen S. Emmerman is PLATO’s Education Director. When my son was in elementary school, there was an alarming incident in one of the classrooms. A teacher had a cerebral event that led to her acting very strangely. The young students knew something was wrong, but when two asked to get help outside the room the … The Library Lion

Aanya Padhi is a sophomore at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, California. She is interested in applied ethics and political philosophy and is active in advocacy work to overturn wrongful convictions and address prosecutorial misconduct.    A few months ago, I started becoming more interested in political philosophy because I realized it connected two … Through Mental Prisms: What Online Learning Taught Me About Ethics and Justice

Jana Mohr Lone is PLATO’s Executive Director. “The age of five is the most philosophical age you can be.”– Mo Willems  Mo Willems’ We Are in a Book! raises in a playful way some of the deepest questions of epistemology and metaphysics, including questions about reality, identity, knowledge, the relationship between the mind and the … We Are in a Book!

Wes Siscoe is an Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University. With a passion for making philosophy accessible, Wes founded the Philosophy Teaching Library as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Notre Dame.  I grew up the son of a Baptist preacher. We lived right next door to the church. As a little boy, … My Dad Was a Baptist Preacher – I’m a Philosophy Professor

Karen S. Emmerman is PLATO’s Education Director. Thinking philosophically requires, among other things, developing a set of philosophical skills. Doing philosophy in elementary schools (students between 5 and 11 years old) for over a decade has drawn my attention to just how important it is to help young people build these skills. For the youngest … Monster at School

Justin Lader is Assistant Professor and Director of Music Education at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. Aside from advocating for philosophy in music education, he researches how musicians form motor memories. Seven years ago, I began experimenting with philosophy for young people in the music classroom. Over these years, I have worked to incorporate … Philosophy in the Music Classroom: The Interplay of Notes and Ideas

Jana Mohr Lone is PLATO’s Executive Director. Many children wonder about death, and many adults find it difficult to respond to their questions and fears. In the United States, we don’t discuss death very much. The subject tends to be uncomfortable and anxiety-producing for people, and the experience of losing a loved one is often … Death is Stupid

Amna, a high school graduate from a small city in Pakistan, describes herself as “a certified misfit who never really fit into the system.” She loves watching documentaries and having deep, random conversations about life, exploring the “whys” behind everything.    I didn’t always think about purpose. For most of my school years, life was … Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Purpose