Abstract

BARRIENTOS-RASTROJO, José. From philosophy for children to philosophy from indigenous children: a proposal from the nosotrificación Mayan-Tojolabal. child.philo [online]. 2023, vol.19, e78357.  Epub Sep 30, 2023. ISSN 1984-5987.  https://doi.org/10.12957/childphilo.2023.78357.

Over the past few years, Philosophy for Children has witnessed the adoption of its practices by indigenous communities around the world. This includes examples like the practices in Madrid or Ezcurdia inspired by Mexican philosophy, the African practices of Odierna, and the Asian practices of Elicor. Many experts have highlighted the positive impact of these practices on fostering critical thinking skills. They argue that critical thinking can empower indigenous peoples by helping them break free from the conditions of oppression and colonialism they have historically faced. However, there is a valid concern that the methodologies of critical thinking, based on discursive or logical-argumentative criteria, might inadvertently perpetuate a form of neo-colonialism by imposing Western ways of thinking. Additionally, the topics and materials used in philosophical sessions often originate from the perspectives and horizons of the United States or Europe. This raises the risk of imposing foreign discourses and potentially turning the concept of emancipation through critical thinking into a new form of oppression. This paper aims to analyze these risks and proposes a cooperative model to prevent Philosophy for Children from becoming neocolonial. This cooperative approach encourages the incorporation of indigenous philosophies by actively listening to the viewpoints of these indigenous communities. The goal is to expand, adjust, and enhance the foundations of Philosophy for Children by incorporating indigenous perspectives.This proposal takes a different approach compared to the philosophical work conducted with indigenous communities mentioned earlier. It reflects on the progress made by indigenous philosophies in challenging Western presuppositions within the field of philosophy. Ultimately, it strives to create a collaborative philosophy that emerges from indigenous Mayan-Tojolabal children themselves rather than one created solely for them.

Keywords : tojolabal; indigenous thinking; Philosophy for Children; Lipman; Sharp.

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