Gareth B. Matthews

Abstract

Gareth Blanc Matthews was a specialist in ancient and medieval philosophy, who also wrote on early modern philosophy, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of mind. Matthews became convinced that while people philosophize differently throughout their lives, the impulse to philosophize is integral to our humanity, and begins in early childhood. For Matthews, an organic relationship exists between children’s philosophical inquiries and the erudite discussions and writings of academic philosophers. Matthews draws upon the scholarship of traditional and contemporary philosophers to determine what is philosophical in children’s literature. Matthews and Karin Murris rightly argue that adults must strive toward a non-totalizing view of children. The visiting philosopher model Matthews helped to establish is perhaps the most common model of philosophy for children in the United States. Perhaps Matthews’ most important contribution to philosophy was his nearly single-handed creation of the subdiscipline, philosophy of childhood.