Dear Steemians,
Anytime the words of "philosophy" are heard upon, the people generally response it in such frowned face. They thought the philosophy as a deep thinking and elite branch of knowledge, only for genius ones and unattainable by mediocre persons. The fact is, it might be true. But, it was not because the philosophy is real hard shit for thinking; it's simply coming from people reluctance to learn it, thanks to the lack of teaching of philosophy in Indonesia.
As you may know, the Indonesian national education system didn't offer the philosophy subject since the earlier elementary school, even as a simply part within curriculum. I don't know much about the other countries, but in Indonesia the philosophy was only teach and makes its formal entry into the curriculum at the college level. It helps create a false impression, that philosophy was only fit for adults and for higher education. Worse, not all college provide philosophical subject even though acknowledged the philosophy may helps student dealing with decision making process in science.
The importances of philosophy learning
As human being, we cannot escape the fact we need philosophy to answer the fundamental question about life and humanity. Mankind always puzzled by such essential question as "Where we come from? What are we? Where we are going?" The answer of these questions are primary means for establishing your worldview, the way you see and understand the world regarding God, universe, human and history. A person's world view will determine his or her attitudes toward life and death. Moreover, said your worldview will define your kind of ideology too.
Not only dealing with those divinely things, philosophy also explicitly asks and answers fundamental questions on knowledge in broader senses, such as "What is knowledge? How can I know something? What should I do?" Without some answer to these questions, no knowledge or action is possible in consequently.
Paul Gauguin, Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?, 1897-98, oil on canvas, 139.1 x 374.6 cm (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston). Source
Some say, philosophic questions is only wasting time. Unfortunately, it wasn't true, as the statement itself is expressing what is important, worthwhile, or valuable; to know what wastes time, one would have to know what is a good, a non-wasteful, use of time. All of those are philosophical thinking too. In short, to reject the philosophy ones need another philosophy. :)
While others argue, as modern human species have science now, do we still need to learn philosophy? Well, science is originally a branch of philosophy which dealing with the mystery of nature and society in empirical way. As such physics, was known as "natural philosophy" until the beginning of the 20th century; i.e. the philosophy of the "natural" (physical) world. Noted in history, that called scientific method, logic, math, rationalism etc, all evolved from philosophy and subject to philosophical criticism called philosophy of science.
In practical purpose, philosophy learning will granted the students the ability to see things from many different perspectives, and helps to engage in conversations on a wide range of topics with many different kinds of audiences.
So where are all philosophical confusion coming from?
The Death of Socrates painting - In the painting, an old man in a white. Source
Basically, confusion in philosophy among people resulted by the alienation of philosophy subject within education system. Since philosophy only teaching at higher education, that even not available for all branch of colleges, producing unfamiliar nature with its terms and concept at basic scale among us. Even for the student itself, still have to cope in struggle with challenges coming from existing view on life, art, society, education, religion, and more. It needs time and effort to opened up possibilities and ideas never thought about before becoming a deeper thinker and a more open-minded individual.
On the other hand, in Indonesian case, the philosophy teaching in quality heavily related with pedagogy method applied. As most teachers in Indonesian school and college are still using classic method of memorising material presented with little interaction and attention toward individual student. It contrast with an effective teaching known in philosophy, which operationalised into five learning activities sort of rationalising, analysing, testing, producing criticism, and reflecting.
However, eventually confusion is good, it will leading to learning. Through philosophical confusion, it teach us an intellectual humility by recognising facts how little we knew about things. Showing the deep concern to dealing with, philosophers explain confusion are by product differences of what the realities exactly are, and how we perceive those properly, as primary way to define whether the thoughts are true or real at every level. Extend by philosophical questions as such "What is real? What is the distinction between appearance and reality? How is our experiences can be interpreted and understood?" and so on.
Learning philosophy since children ages
In contrary with common sense, philosophy is best learning since early ages as children’s curiosity and wonder are easily triggered. Children are natural philosophers, they are full of questions significantly, and believe it or not, many of their questions have philosophical content. Imagine when the children asking you "where is the God? Should we always help others, etc, etc". Don't you feel stammered by this?
Philosophy in schools. Source
Philosophy teaching for children are encouraged by most philosophers lately, pioneered by Philosophy for Children (P4C) movement started in the 1970s. These conducted by teachers who are trained in philosophy through engaging student-led discussion and to inspire philosophical discussions with young children using the stories they already know and love.
Reported, children who study in philosophy are more likely to achieve better academic results, better self-esteem and demonstrated empathy for others. It also said there are less bullying in school and less behaviour-management issue.