PLATO | Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization

PLATO nurtures young people’s curiosity, critical thinking, and desire to explore big questions, through philosophy and ethics programs for students, educators, and families. PLATO members include teachers and students, professional philosophers and other educators, graduate and undergraduate students, parents and grandparents, and school administrators. Our innovative educational programs serve thousands of students, teachers, and parents nationally and internationally. PLATO programs foster critical thinking, tolerance and understanding of diverse viewpoints, self-confidence, and analytic reasoning skills. Offering philosophy to young people, including those whose voices historically have been marginalized, brings needed new perspectives to philosophy and the humanities. For many years we have run free “Philosophers in the Schools” and family programs in Seattle’s most underserved communities. Our funding program, High School Ethics Bowl, open access publications, free online resources, and extensive financial assistance are all grounded in our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. We believe every student deserves access to philosophy and to conversations that matter to them.