AAP 2026 CONFERENCE

This paper explores the voices and lived experiences of young boys aged between 12-13 who participated in the University of Qld’s Philosothon for the first time. The Philosothon was a structured philosophical inquiry that engaged students from several local and urban Qld high schools in collaborative dialogue around critical thinking. This small study centres on the boys’ perspectives so that we can better understand how young people experience philosophical thinking in a formal, dialogic setting. Through video vignettes and live presentations, students will afford their own reflections and moments of challenge, initial skepticism and shifts in thinking during and after the event. Their voices reveal emerging confidence in reasoning, collaboration and intellectual curiosity. Rather than focusing on the outcome of the competition, this paper explores the process of philosophical engagement as experienced by the boys themselves. Their experiences provide compelling insights into their intersections with inquiry and perspectives of collaboration in a setting outside of their schooling milieu. This paper contributes to a broader discussion on how philosophical events can create spaces of belonging, collaboration and meaning making, particularly for those new to the discipline. The project affirms the value of listening to young people and honouring their voices when participating in philosophical inquiry.