Philosophy for and by Everyone: How Doing Philosophy Supports Epistemic Agency

In this paper we argue that it is beneficial for members of the public to do philosophy. By engaging with philosophical knowledge and methods, epistemic agents develop their capacity to acquire, produce, share, and use knowledge in the pursuit of their goals. To unpack what "doing philosophy" might entail, we build on recent pedagogical and philosophical literature on the topic and turn to two illustrations of how resources and activities can be designed and delivered to support public engagement with philosophy. In the case studies we describe, a stimulating and inclusive environment is created where philosophical tasks can be practiced by everyone, individually and in groups. Participants are encouraged to reflect on an issue of relevance to their lives, identify limitations and biases in their own reasoning or outlook, and approach a variety of perspectives on the issue with curiosity.