Philosophical Enquiry in academic teaching and outreach

Thoughtful and the Oxford Uehiro Institute explore new possibilities for philosophical enquiry

What happens when philosophical enquiry plays a role in how universities teach philosophy and engage wider publics?

Over the past two years, Thoughtful and the Oxford Uehiro Institute have been exploring that question through a growing partnership that has brought together academic philosophers, public engagement professionals and philosophical educators. Beginning with a pilot workshop for Oxford academics and progressing with a collaborative session at the University’s Public & Community Engagement Conference, this work has demonstrated the potential of philosophical enquiry to enrich university teaching while opening up new possibilities for meaningful public dialogue.

Philosophical Enquiry and its possibilities for philosophers and publics

The partnership began in 2025 when the Oxford Uehiro Institute invited Thoughtful Co-Director Dr Grace Lockrobin to lead a pilot professional development workshop for Oxford academics and postgraduate researchers.

The workshop introduced participants to the distinctive pedagogy of Philosophical Enquiry (also known as Philosophy for Children and Communities, or P4C) as a way of facilitating richer discussion both inside and beyond the university. Rather than focusing solely on philosophical content, the session explored the craft of creating dialogue: managing conversation, encouraging participation from a wider range of voices and building genuine communities of enquiry.

Alongside practical facilitation techniques, participants considered how philosophical enquiry can sharpen philosophical thinking, make complex ideas more accessible and strengthen public engagement. The workshop also explored the changing landscape of public philosophy, sharing examples from Thoughtful’s work in schools, museums, prisons, healthcare and community settings, together with insights from recent research.

Reflecting on the experience, Professor Roger Crisp commented:

“Excellent. It was a good idea to involve us in activities rather than just tell us how they work.”

Thinking together across difference

Building on the success of the pilot, the partnership developed further in 2026 through a co-created workshop for the University of Oxford’s Public & Community Engagement Conference: Making Bigger Differences.

Led jointly by Dr Grace Lockrobin and Professor Katrien Devolder, the workshop explored philosophical enquiry as an innovative methodology for public engagement. Rather than presenting a theoretical account of the approach, participants were invited to take part in a philosophical enquiry themselves before reflecting critically on the experience.

The enquiry focused on ethical questions surrounding the restitution of artefacts that have been looted, stolen or acquired through contested means by museums and private collectors. As participants explored these questions together, they experienced how carefully facilitated dialogue enables people with different perspectives, backgrounds and expertise to think collaboratively, listen generously and disagree constructively.

Following the enquiry, the group examined the pedagogical principles that underpin the approach, including democratic participation, enquiry-based learning and non-directive facilitation. Participants reflected on how these principles create intellectually rigorous yet inclusive spaces in which difficult ethical questions can be explored collectively.

The workshop concluded by considering how philosophical enquiry might enhance public engagement across a wide range of disciplines and institutions. Participants discussed the opportunities for using enquiry to engage wider publics with complex research questions, recognising its potential to make philosophical and ethical debate more accessible while preserving intellectual depth and openness.

Looking ahead

These workshops represent the beginning of an exciting collaboration between Thoughtful and the Oxford Uehiro Institute. Together, they have demonstrated that philosophical enquiry has much to offer higher education—not only as a powerful pedagogy for university teaching, but also as an innovative approach to public engagement that enables people to think together across difference.

The partnership is now informing the development of a new programme of professional development for university lecturers, researchers and public engagement professionals who wish to incorporate philosophical enquiry into their own teaching and engagement practice.

We’re looking forward to sharing more about this new offer in the coming months.