The Land of I Suppose

This story attached is taken from from 'Wondering at the World, Manual to Accompany Kio and Gus', p379. Copyright: IAPC Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children. Used with permission.

Notes by Steve Williams
This story prompts children to use their imaginations and make arguments. They will have to consider what they think is wrong with the actions of the people in the story: taking airplanes apart to re-make them into cars. Presumably they will come up with ideas that refer to the concept of waste -- of time, of resources and money. Then they will have to imagine alternative, and better, ways of doing things supported by reasons. The alternative might be less wasteful for example.

The activity has an interesting twist. It suggests that the people in the 'Land of Suppose' might refuse accept alternatives. Children are thus challenged to imagine arguments the inhabitants might make and then make their own response. This brings into focus the role of presuppositions. What if the people don't accept the presupposition that waste is a bad thing. Are the just wrong? Who might pupils convince them without just repeating the opinion that waste is a bad thing? Would a consideration of consequences help in support of an argument against waste? And so on.

Becoming aware of presuppositions, anticipating other people's arguments and judging when it is right to persist with an argument are all elements of deliberate philosophizing.

Follow up
'The Land of Suppose' is an evocative title for a story. Children could make up their own stories about their own imaginary land of that name where they support alternatives with arguments. The challenge can be retained: 'What do you do if people don't agree with you? Why might they not agree?' The field is open for reflection on technical, political and moral issues.

Alternatively, teacher and children could share in the creation of the story.

Role Play
The story, and any follow-up stories produced by the children could form the basis of a role play, with children working individually or in groups to come up with alternatives and arguments. The teacher or other groups could play the role of the 'difficult to persuade' inhabitants.