Life Lessons
from the
PhiLosoPhers
Scott Seider and Sarah Novick
Adisciplined mind, a synthesizing mind, a creating mind, a respectful mind, and an ethical mind: these are Howard Gardner’s Five Minds for the Future (2006). Notably, the
first three of these five minds focus on cognitive
skills, but the final two—the respectful and ethical
minds—focus on how people interact with and
relate to others.
Thousands of studies in education, psychology,
and neuroscience delve into the types of tasks,
activities, and lessons that can strengthen students’ cognitive skills (see, for example, Bransford,
Brown, & Cocking, 1999; Glenn, 2007; Schwartz
& Heiser, 2006). Far less attention has been paid,
however, to fostering students’ respectful and ethical minds. During the past year, our research has
focused on several middle and secondary schools
