Abstract

The article analyzes J. Gaarder’s s book «Sophie’s world» and defines its place in philosophy for children as a shpere of humanities. Philosophy for children in the «classical» model is presented as a method of P4C (author – M. Lipman). The author presents the audience the main thesises and methods of the P4C method and compares «Sophie’s world» with classic works of M. Lipman. The same moments of these works are: the target audience (partly), «socratic dialogue», the presence of creative imagination. However, the book by Y. Gaarder differs in the literary form of presentation (unlike the methodical works of M. Lipman) and issues («Sophie’s world» analyzes the history of philosophical systems; M. Lipman analyzes philosophical problems without reference to names and periods). «Sophie’s world» has the following features of P4C: philosophical guidance, «socratic dialogue», critical thinking, the formation of responses to questions, interactive interaction, self-reflection. As a result, the author provides recommendations to teachers on the peculiarities of teaching the work «World of Sophia» at school and identifies the competencies that the book can develop in students. «Sophie’s world» can be introduced into the school programm. However, teachers need to follow special recommendations. Children must express their opinions themselves and be a «Сommunity of researchers». Everyone сan to tell their own opinion. To interest students, the teacher can offer: video scribing, team collage, artistic reproduction of the atmosphere (for e[ample decoration), role play. «Sophie’s world» is a relevant work for philosophy for children. Y. Gaarder's book can form the reflective thinking and non-standard view of the world. The novel also develops communication skills, the ability to work in a team and ability to work with a large amount of information. «Sophie’s world» is very important and actual book for modern philosophy for children.