Using explainer videos to do philosophy with children and young people

Aesop-style fables are narratives that serve as arguments from analogy. Because they are short and structurally simple, have no substantial plot development, and feature interactions between animal characters, fables are easy to read, listen to, and remember. Due to their having an explicitly stated message in the end and often offering practical advice, they are exactly the type of story that can promote personal reflection and can be used to introduce a philosophical concept or kickstart a philosophical discussion in a classroom with children and young people. In this paper, I suggest that in our digital age explainer videos are an effective and versatile means to share fables in the context of primary and secondary education. Content that is communicated visually is accessible and engaging for young people with varying reading abilities and can be easily consumed and shared online. I suggest that explainer videos can be used to do philosophy with children and young people by introducing philosophical issues of practical importance and illustrating different perspectives on such issues.