Thinking and Children

Thinking and Children

Critical Analysis of Intellectual Stories for Iranian Children: A Case Study Volume 5

Articles in Press

Document Type : Scientific- research

Authors
Nahid Yousefi 1
Reza Ali Nowrozi 2
Maryam Esteki 3
1 M.A. Student in History and Philosophy of Education, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Educational & Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
2 Associate Professor Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Educational & Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
3 . M.A. Student in History and Philosophy of Education, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Educational & Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Abstract:
One of the most important activities in the field of intellectual skills training is the philosophy program for children. Education experts believe that philosophical mindset in children is formed through stories. The present study aimed to examine and analyze intellectual stories for Iranian children, based on Lippmann's theory of philosophical thinking. The criterion considered for comparison in this study was the components of philosophical thinking from Lippmann's perspective, which were divided into three main dimensions of critical, creative, and caring thinking. Using the method of deductive content analysis, the components of philosophical thinking were identified and analyzed in two selected stories from intellectual stories for Iranian children. The research findings showed that both stories, because they contain components in the context of various dimensions of philosophical thinking, serve as a rich source to help develop creative, critical, and caring thinking in children. However, due to their suggestive and instructive structure derived from classical literature, they require revision and strengthening of the challenging aspect for optimal use in the P4C program.
Keywords:
components of philosophical thinking, dialogie, intellectual story, Lippmann, philosophy for children.
Introduction:
In today's complex and changing world, fostering thinking in children and adolescents is increasingly important. The "Philosophy for Children" (P4C) program is one of the educational programs designed by focusing on all dimensions of thinking. Lipman, as the founder of this program, and his followers believe that children are capable of abstract thinking from the age of three. Philosophical stories are the most important educational resources in this program. Since Lipman believed that the story is the best tool for engaging children in discussion, he wrote books for children. Iranian researchers have also created books based on the needs and local culture of children. This article analyzes two stories, "The Old Thorn Gatherer" and "The Fox and the Lion" from the fifth volume of "Intellectual Stories for Iranian Children" within the framework of Lipman's theory.
Materials and Methods:
The present research is qualitative. The data collection method was documentary. The document analyzed was the book "Intellectual Stories for Iranian Children", Volume 5, for children aged 8-14 years. Two stories from this collection were selected for analysis using purposive sampling. The data analysis method was deductive content analysis based on pre-established categories extracted from Lipman's theory on the components of philosophical thinking.
Discussion and Results:
The research findings showed that both stories, because they contain components in the context of various dimensions of philosophical thinking (critical, creative, and caring), serve as a rich source to help develop these types of thinking in children. In the story "The Old Thorn Gatherer," creative thinking and then critical thinking were most frequent. In the story "The Fox and the Lion," caring thinking was richer compared to critical and creative thinking, with emotional and value-based components playing a more prominent role. However, a content analysis from the perspective of P4C's fundamental principles revealed shortcomings. The most important criticism returns to the prescriptive and instructive nature of these stories, derived from classical literature, which invites the reader to accept a pre-determined truth rather than engaging in "inquiry" and "communal research."
Conclusion:
Although both analyzed stories contain Lipman's three components of philosophical thinking, for optimal use in the P4C program, they require revision to strengthen their challenging and dialogic aspects. The philosophical "content" exists in these stories, but the philosophical "method" is not present within them. Simply adding questions and exercises at the end of the story cannot compensate for the weakness of the prescriptive narrative structure. Suggestions for revision and further research are provided.
Keywords
components of philosophical thinking
dialogie
intellectual story
Lippmann
philosophy for children
Subjects
Ahmadi, H. and Eghbali, A. (2022). Philosophy for Children and Professional Development of Teachers (qualitative study). Journal of Philosophical Investigations, 16 (39), 113-128. https://doi.org/10.22034/jpiut.2022.52657.3321 [In Persian]
Azamatmadar Fard, F. , Nasr Abadi, H. B. , Heidari, M. H. and Ghaedi, Y. (2019). Analyzing Three Stories from Ubayd Zakani's Resaleh-ye Delgosha according to Lipman. Journal of Children's Literature Studies, 9 (2), 99-122. https://doi.org/10.22099/jcls.2017.24046.1474 [In Persian]
Azamatmadar Fard, F., Bakhtyra Nasr Abadi, H. A., & Heidari, M. H. (2019). Rereading Mathnavi Stories Based on “Lipman's view about the Components of Philosophical Thinking and Compilation of a Guide to Be Used in Community of Inquiry. Journal of Islamic Education, 14 (28), 29-52. https://doi.org/10.30471/edu.2019.1520   [In Persian]
Baygzade,K. and Ahmadi,P. (2024). An Analysis of the Stories 'Be Like Imam Reza (A.S.)' “Mesl-e- Imam Reza Bash” Based on Lipman's Multi-Dimensional Thinking Theory. Journal of Razavi Culture, 12(48), 61-89. https://doi.org/10.22034/farzv.2023.403713.1888  [In Persian]
Cam, P. (2024). Thinking Together (Philosophical inquiries  for the Classroom), translated by Farzaneh Shahrtash and Mojgan Rashtchi, Tehran: Shehrtash. [In Persian]
Eskandari Sharafi,F. (2025). Philosophy for Children Criterion in Nader Ebrahimi’s “Crows” Story. Thinking and Children, 15(2), 31-71. https://doi.org/10.30465/fabak.2025.9525 [In Persian]
Eskandari Sharafi,F. and Baygzade,K. (2023). The investigation and Analysis of Houshang Moradi Kermani's "Sang Ruye Sang" in Accordance with Mathew Lipman's Philosophy for Children (P4C) Approach. Thinking and Children, 14(1), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.30465/FABAK.2022.7367 [In Persian]
Eskandari Sharafi,F. and baygzade,K. (2021). Polo-Khoresh Story Collection by Houshang Moradi Kermnai on the Scales of P4C. Contemporary Persian Literature, 11(11), 1-28. https://doi.org/10.30465/copl.2021.6823 [In Persian]
Eskandari Sharafi,F. , Rahmati Firouzabadi,Y. and Falah,A. F. (2021). P4C Reading of Little Black Fish (Mahi Koucholou-ye Siyah) by Samad Behrangi. Thinking and Children, 12(1), 1-33. https://doi.org/10.30465/fabak.2021.6230 [In Persian]
Habibi Araghi, L., & Naji, S. (2018). A new look at the philosophical and literary features of stories in P4C. Thinking and Child, 9(1), 1-30. [In Persian]Heydariasab, F., Kazazi, M. J., & Bigzadeh, K. (2022). The techniques of thinking in Farhad Hassanzadeh's stories based on Lipman's theory (Case study: Stories for age groups A, B, and C). Thinking and Child, 12(2), 181-211. [In Persian]
Lipman, M. (2010). Thinking children and education. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt.
Moslemi F, Eftekhari J, Nowrozi R. An Analysis of Lipman's Components of Caring Thinking in a Collection of Philosophical Stories for Iranian Children. erj 2024; 14 (48) :188-204
http://erj.khu.ac.ir/article-1-1399-fa.html
Moslemi, F. , shamshiri, B. and Izadpanah, A. (2024). Identifying the components of Lipman's philosophical thinking in the book Pinocchio. Qualitative Research in Curriculum, 5(14), 123-153.  https://doi.org/10.22054/qric.2024.81082.386 [In Persian]
Moslemi, F. , shamshiri, B. , Izadpanah, A. and Khoshbakht, F. (2025). Identifying the components of Lippmann's philosophical thinking in the Little Prince Storybook. Learner-based Curriculum and Instruction Journal, 3(4), 98-114. https://doi.org/10.22034/cipj.2025.62587.1135 [In Persian]
Naji, S., & Habibi Araghi, L. (2018). A new look at the philosophical and literary features of stories in P4C. Thinking and Child, 9(1), 1-30. [In Persian]
Naji, S. (2023). Philosophical inquiry for children and adolescents. Tehran: Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies. [In Persian]Poorghorban, F., Hasanloui, R., Hossein Lou, S., Taghinejad teymourabadi, S. & Taghinejad teymourabadi, R.  (2024). Investigating the goals and necessities of teaching philosophy to children, Journal of the Philosophy Approach in Schools and Organizations, 1 (8): 30-46. https://doi.org/10.22034/esbam.2024.444502.1046 [In Persian]
Qeisari Ramezanian, M., Masoomifard, M., Rezaie, S. & Mahmoudi, M. (2023). A Critical Analysis of Philosophy Education for Children in Iran,. Ma'rifat, 32 (9), 21-30. https://dx.doi.org/10.22034/marifat.2023.2021625 [In Persian
Naji, S. (2023). Philosophical inquiry for children and adolescents. Tehran: Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies. [In Persian]
Sattari, A. (2023). Teaching Thinking to Children and Adolescents, Tehran: Organization for the Study and Compilation of Academic Books in Islamic Sciences and Humanities. [In Persian]
Tavakoli, M., Safian, M. J., Ghaedy, Y., & Ardalani, H. (2022). Some Points from the Quranic Story of Moses and Khezr Regarding Teaching Caring Thinking Based on the Doctrines of Philosophy for Children. Journal of Islamic Education, 17 (39), 73-91. https://doi.org/10.30471/edu.2021.7802.2456 [In Persian]Yousefi, A., & Naji, S. (2022). Rereading a chapter from Kelileh va Demneh (Analysis of the chapter of the lion and the jackal based on the philosophical story foundations for children). Research Journal of Didactic Literature, 14(55), 135-160. [In Persian]
Zamanpour, R., et al. (2022). The requirements of philosophical adaptation in philosophical stories for children from the perspective of philosophical adequacy: A comparative and research example: Dorman Lisa and Leila. Journal of Child Literature Studies, 13(2), 135-160. https://doi.org/10.22099/jcls.2021.39756.1863 [In Persian]
Thinking and Children

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 20 June 2026

  • Receive Date 02 October 2025
  • Revise Date 31 May 2026
  • Accept Date 10 June 2026
  • Publish Date 20 June 2026