Gilbert Burgh has been active in promoting philosophy in schools since 1990. He has published widely in the field of educational philosophy (philosophy functioning educationally), especially democratic education and collaborative philosophical inquiry as pedagogy, and in 2009 completed an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project Grant to conduct a study on the effectiveness of philosophy on children’s explanatory behaviour, problem-solving, and learning. He has participated in a number of philosophy teacher education programs in Australia and the United States, and was the founding president of the Queensland Association of Philosophy in Schools (1994-1996), and president of the Federation of Australasian Philosophy in Schools Associations (2002-2003). As one of the founding members of the Australian Philosophy Research Group (APRG), he works closely with other members, Dr. Simone Thornton (School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, UOW / Honorary Research Fellow, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, UQ), Assoc. Prof. Michelle Boulous Walker (School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, UQ), and Adjunct Assoc. Prof. Mary Graham (School of Political Science and International Studies, UQ / Doctor of the University honoris causa, UQ / QUT), a Kombumerri and Wakka Wakka community development leader, Elder, educator, and philosopher, who has long been a sounding board and driver of Aboriginal philosophy. The aim of the group is to develop an Australian philosophy in dialogue with Indigenous and non-Indigneous scholars, to develop a place-based, grounded philosophy. This project informs his current research on place-responsive pedagogy as an ecological approach to education to improve human-environmental relations and how we understand citizenship and democracy.
Journal Article: Teaching about climate change in the midst of ecological crisis: responsibilities, challenges, and responsibilities
Bleazby, Jennifer, Burgh, Gilbert, Thornton, Simone, Graham, Mary, Reid, Alan and Finefter-Ronsebluh, Ilana (2023). Teaching about climate change in the midst of ecological crisis: responsibilities, challenges, and responsibilities. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 55 (10), 1087-1095. doi: 10.1080/00131857.2023.2211260
Journal Article: Responding to climate change ‘controversy’ in schools: Philosophy for Children, place-responsive pedagogies & Critical Indigenous Pedagogy
Bleazby, Jennifer, Thornton, Simone, Burgh, Gilbert and Graham, Mary (2023). Responding to climate change ‘controversy’ in schools: Philosophy for Children, place-responsive pedagogies & Critical Indigenous Pedagogy. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 55 (10), 1096-1108. doi: 10.1080/00131857.2022.2132933
Book Chapter: Rethinking teacher preparation for teaching: controversial topics in a community of inquiry
Thornton, Simone, Burgh, Gilbert, Bleazby, Jennifer and Graham, Mary (2023). Rethinking teacher preparation for teaching: controversial topics in a community of inquiry. Philosophy with children and teacher education: global perspectives on critical, creative and caring thinking. (pp. 194-203) edited by Arie Kizel. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003212737-25
(2008–2009) ARC Discovery Projects
(2003) UQ Early Career Researcher
(2001–2002) UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
Lovers of wisdom on Stolen Land: An investigation into the under- and mis- representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander philosophies in Australian tertiary philosophy education today.
Doctor Philosophy
Disruptive Philosophies: Eco-rational education and the epistemology of place
(2019) Doctor Philosophy
Teaching for thinking: explaining pedagogical expertise in the development of the skills, values and virtues of inquiry
(2019) Doctor Philosophy
Teaching democracy in an age of uncertainty: place-responsive learning
Burgh, Gilbert and Thornton, Simone (2022). Teaching democracy in an age of uncertainty: place-responsive learning. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003098089
Philosophical inquiry with children: the development of an inquiring society in Australia
Gilbert Burgh and Simone Thornton eds. (2019). Philosophical inquiry with children: the development of an inquiring society in Australia. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429431821
Freakley, Mark, Burgh, Gilbert and MacSporran, Lyne Tilt (2015). Values education in schools: a resource book for student inquiry Translated by Sayyedah Mobina Shaheri Langroudi. Tehran, Iran: Siahroud.
Values education in schools: a resource book for student inquiry
Freakley, Mark, Burgh, Gilbert and Tilt MacSporran, Lyne (2008). Values education in schools: a resource book for student inquiry. Camberwell, VIC, Australia: ACER Press.
Ethics and the Community of Inquiry: Education for Deliberative Democracy
Burgh, G., Field, T. K. and Freakley, M. (2006). Ethics and the Community of Inquiry: Education for Deliberative Democracy. 1 ed. South Melbourne, Victoria: Thomson Social Science Press.
Engaging with Ethics: Ethical Inquiry for Teachers
Freakley, M. and Burgh, G. (2000). Engaging with Ethics: Ethical Inquiry for Teachers. Katoomba, NSW: Social Science Press Australia.
Rethinking teacher preparation for teaching: controversial topics in a community of inquiry
Thornton, Simone, Burgh, Gilbert, Bleazby, Jennifer and Graham, Mary (2023). Rethinking teacher preparation for teaching: controversial topics in a community of inquiry. Philosophy with children and teacher education: global perspectives on critical, creative and caring thinking. (pp. 194-203) edited by Arie Kizel. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003212737-25
Growing up with philosophy in Australia: philosophy as cultural discourse
Thornton, Simone and Burgh, Gilbert (2019). Growing up with philosophy in Australia: philosophy as cultural discourse. Philosophical inquiry with children: the development of an inquiring society in Australia. (pp. 236-249) edited by Gilbert Burgh and Simone Thornton. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429431821-22
The philosophical classroom: an Australian story
Burgh, Gilbert and Thornton, Simone (2019). The philosophical classroom: an Australian story. Philosophical inquiry with children: the development of an inquiring society in Australia. (pp. 1-5) edited by Gilbert Burgh and Simone Thornton. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429431821-1
Burgh, Gilbert, Thornton, Simone and Fynes-Clinton, Liz (2018). ‘Do not block the way of inquiry’: cultivating collective doubt through sustained deep reflective thinking. Parecidos de familia. Propuestas actuales en Filosofía para Niños [Family Resemblances: Current trends in philosophy for children]. (pp. 47-61) edited by Ellen Duthie, Félix García Moriyón and Rafael Robles Loro. Madrid, Spain: Anaya.
From Harry to Philosophy Park: the development of philosophy for children resources in Australia
Burgh, Gilbert and Thornton, Simone (2017). From Harry to Philosophy Park: the development of philosophy for children resources in Australia. The Routledge international handbook of philosophy for children. (pp. 163-170) edited by Maughn Rollins Gregory, Joanna Haynes and Karin Murris. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315726625-34
Making peace education everyone’s business
Thornton, Simone and Burgh, Gilbert (2017). Making peace education everyone’s business. Inclusion, diversity and intercultural dialogue in young people's philosophical inquiry. (pp. 55-65) edited by Ching-Ching Lin and Lavina Sequeira. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense Publishers. doi: 10.1007/978-94-6351-065-3
Philosophy in Schools: An Australian perspective
Burgh, Gilbert (2017). Philosophy in Schools: An Australian perspective. History, Theory and Practices of Philosophy for Children: International Perspectives. (pp. 157-166) edited by Saeed Naji and Rosnani Hashim. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315208732
Reconstruction of thinking across the curriculum through the community of inquiry
Nichols, Kim, Burgh, Gilbert and Fynes-Clinton, Liz (2017). Reconstruction of thinking across the curriculum through the community of inquiry. The Routledge international handbook of philosophy for children. (pp. 245-252) edited by Maughn Rollins Gregory, Joanna Haynes and Karin Murris. Abingdon, Oxon United Kingdom: Routledge.
Creative and lateral thinking: Edward de Bono
Burgh, Gilbert (2014). Creative and lateral thinking: Edward de Bono. Encyclopedia of educational theory and philosophy. (pp. 187-189) edited by D. C. Phillips. Thousand Oakes, CA, United Sates: Sage. doi: 10.4135/9781483346229.n86
Citizenship as a Learning Process: Democratic education without foundationalism
Burgh, Gilbert (2010). Citizenship as a Learning Process: Democratic education without foundationalism. Asian-Arab Philosophical Dialogues on Globalization, Democracy and Human Rights. (pp. 59-69) edited by Darryl R.J. Mracer and Souria Saad-Zoy. Bangkok Thailand: UNESCO, Regional Unit for Social and Human Sciences in Asia and the Pacific.
P4C in Australia: Interview with Gilbert Burgh by Saeed Naji
Burgh, Gilbert (2008). P4C in Australia: Interview with Gilbert Burgh by Saeed Naji. Philosophical Inquiry for Children: Interviews with Some Leaders of Philosophy for Children throughout the World. (pp. x-x) edited by Saeed Naji. Tehran, Iran: Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies.
Aesthetic Encounters of the Human Kind (Foreword)
Burgh, Gilbert (2007). Aesthetic Encounters of the Human Kind (Foreword). Gleaner or Gladiator: the struggle to create. (pp. 6-9) edited by Marshall, Lyne. Tallegalla, Queensland: Art Clique Projects.
From Socrates to Lipman: Making Philosophy Relevant
Burgh, G. (2005). From Socrates to Lipman: Making Philosophy Relevant. Creative Engagements: Thinking with Children. (pp. 25-31) edited by Daniel Shepherd. Oxford, UK: Inter-Disciplinary Press.
Democratic Education: Aligning curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and school governance.
Burgh, G. (2003). Democratic Education: Aligning curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and school governance.. Philosophy, Democracy and Education. (pp. 101-120) edited by Philip Cam. Seoul, Korea: Korean National Commission for UNESCO.
Bleazby, Jennifer, Burgh, Gilbert, Thornton, Simone, Graham, Mary, Reid, Alan and Finefter-Ronsebluh, Ilana (2023). Teaching about climate change in the midst of ecological crisis: responsibilities, challenges, and responsibilities. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 55 (10), 1087-1095. doi: 10.1080/00131857.2023.2211260
Bleazby, Jennifer, Thornton, Simone, Burgh, Gilbert and Graham, Mary (2023). Responding to climate change ‘controversy’ in schools: Philosophy for Children, place-responsive pedagogies & Critical Indigenous Pedagogy. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 55 (10), 1096-1108. doi: 10.1080/00131857.2022.2132933
Place-based philosophical education: reconstructing ‘place’, reconstructing ethics
Thornton, Simone, Graham, Mary and Burgh, Gilbert (2021). Place-based philosophical education: reconstructing ‘place’, reconstructing ethics. Childhood and Philosophy, 17, 1-29. doi: 10.12957/childphilo.2021.54696
The narrow-sense and wide-sense community of inquiry: What it means for teachers
Burgh, Gilbert (2021). The narrow-sense and wide-sense community of inquiry: What it means for teachers. Analytic Teaching and Philosophical Praxis, 41 (1), 12-26.
Burgh, Gilbert (2020). Review of "In community of inquiry with Ann Margaret Sharp: Childhood, philosophy and education, by M.R. Gregory & M.J. Laverty (Eds.)". Journal of Philosophy in Schools, 7 (1), 132-138. doi: 10.46707/jps.v7i.112
Reflecting on place: environmental education as decolonisation
Thornton, Simone, Graham, Mary and Burgh, Gilbert (2019). Reflecting on place: environmental education as decolonisation. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 35 (3), 239-249. doi: 10.1017/aee.2019.31
Burgh, Gilbert and Thornton, Simone (2019). Ecosocial citizenship education: facilitating interconnective, deliberative practice and corrective methodology for epistemic accountability. Childhood and Philosophy, 15, 43-61. doi: 10.12957/childphilo.2019.42794
The need for philosophy in promoting democracy: a case for philosophy in the curriculum
Burgh, Gilbert (2018). The need for philosophy in promoting democracy: a case for philosophy in the curriculum. Journal of Philosophy in Schools, 5 (1), 38-58. doi: 10.21913/JPS.v5i1.1483
Nichols, Kim, Burgh, Gilbert and Kennedy, Callie (2017). Comparing two inquiry professional development interventions in Science on primary students' questioning and other inquiry behaviours. Research in Science Education, 47 (1), 1-24. doi: 10.1007/s11165-015-9487-5
Philosophy goes to school in Australia: A history 1982-2016
Burgh, Gilbert and Thornton, Simone (2016). Philosophy goes to school in Australia: A history 1982-2016. Journal of Philosophy in Schools, 3 (1), 59-83. doi: 10.21913/jps.v3i1.1300
Lucid education: resisting resistance to inquiry
Burgh, Gilbert and Thornton, Simone (2016). Lucid education: resisting resistance to inquiry. Oxford Review of Education, 42 (2), 165-177. doi: 10.1080/03054985.2016.1151410
Connecting learning to the world beyond the classroom through collaborative philosophical inquiry
Scholl, Rosie, Nichols, Kim and Burgh, Gilbert (2016). Connecting learning to the world beyond the classroom through collaborative philosophical inquiry. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 44 (5), 436-454. doi: 10.1080/1359866X.2015.1095279
Inoculation against wonder: finding an antidote in Camus, pragmatism and the community of inquiry
Burgh, Gilbert and Thornton, Simone (2016). Inoculation against wonder: finding an antidote in Camus, pragmatism and the community of inquiry. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 48 (9), 884-898. doi: 10.1080/00131857.2015.1079516
Transforming pedagogy through philosophical inquiry
Scholl, Rosie, Nichols, Kim and Burgh, Gilbert (2014). Transforming pedagogy through philosophical inquiry. International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning, 9 (3), 253-272.
Burgh, Gilbert (2014). Democratic pedagogy. Journal of Philosophy in Schools, 1 (1), 22-44. doi: 10.21913/jps.v1i1.990
Gillies, Robyn M., Nichols, Kim, Burgh, Gilbert and Haynes, Michelle (2013). Primary students' scientific reasoning and discourse during cooperative inquiry-based science activities. International Journal of Educational Research, 63, 127-140. doi: 10.1016/j.ijer.2013.01.001
Burgh, Gilbert and Nichols, Kim (2012). The parallels between philosophical inquiry and scientific inquiry: Implications for science education. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 44 (10), 1045-1059. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-5812.2011.00751.x
Gillies, Robyn M., Nichols, Kim, Burgh, Gilbert and Haynes, Michele (2012). The effects of two strategic and meta-cognitive questioning approaches on children's explanatory behaviour, problem-solving, and learning during cooperative, inquiry-based science. International Journal of Educational Research, 53, 93-106. doi: 10.1016/j.ijer.2012.02.003
Promoting problem-solving and reasoning during cooperative inquiry science
Gillies, Robyn M., Nichols, Kim and Burgh, Gilbert (2011). Promoting problem-solving and reasoning during cooperative inquiry science. Teaching Education, 22 (4), 429-445. doi: 10.1080/10476210.2011.610448
Communities of inquiry: Politics, power and group dynamics
Burgh, Gilbert and Yorshansky, Mor (2011). Communities of inquiry: Politics, power and group dynamics. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 43 (5), 436-452. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-5812.2007.00389.x
Citizenship as a learning process: Democratic education without foundationalism
Burgh, Gilbert (2009). Citizenship as a learning process: Democratic education without foundationalism. Farhang, 22 (69), 117-138.
Education and Civic Responsibility
Burgh, Gilbert (2007). Education and Civic Responsibility. Professional Voice, 4 (3), 33-37.
Reason, feminism and philosophical education
Burgh, G. (2005). Reason, feminism and philosophical education. Critical & creative t\inking: the Australasian journal of philosophy for children, 12 (1&2), 67-78.
Burgh, G. (2004). "Seeking Justice as a strategy for teaching and learning in SOSE: the Ring of Gyges, the Veil of Ignorance and the Prisoner's Dilemma". The Social Educator, 22 (3), 25-33.
Philosophy in Schools: Education for democracy or democratic education
Burgh, G. (2003). Philosophy in Schools: Education for democracy or democratic education. Critical and Creative Thinking: The Australasian Journal of Philosophy in Schools, 11 (2), 18-30.
The world of dialogue (a review of Trevor Curnow, ed., Thinking Through Dialogue)
Burgh, G. (2003). The world of dialogue (a review of Trevor Curnow, ed., Thinking Through Dialogue). Analytic Teaching, 23 (2), 65-66.
Philosophy and Education: Integrating Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
Burgh, G. and O'Brien, M. (2002). Philosophy and Education: Integrating Curriculum, Teaching and Learning. Critical & Creative Thinking: The Australasian Journal of Philosophy for Children, 10 (1), 45-58.
Improving teacher education students' ethical thinking using the community of inquiry approach
Freakley, M. and Burgh, G. (1998). Improving teacher education students' ethical thinking using the community of inquiry approach. Analytic Teaching: The Community of Inquiry Journal, 19 (1), 38-45.
Field, Terri and Burgh, Gilbert (1995). Philosophising with Children. The History Teacher, 31 (1), 45-47.
Talking with Girls: Philosophy in the classroom
Field, Terri, Jordan, S. and Burgh, Gilbert (1993). Talking with Girls: Philosophy in the classroom. Queensland Teachers Union Professional Magazine, 11 (2), 19-23.
Philosophy for children in Australia: then, now, and where to from here?
Burgh, Gilbert and Thornton, Simone (2016). Philosophy for children in Australia: then, now, and where to from here?. 45th Annual Conference of the Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia, Melbourne, Australia, 5-8 December 2015. PESA.
Engagement as dialogue: Camus, pragmatism and constructivist pedagogy
Burgh, Gilbert and Thornton, Simone (2015). Engagement as dialogue: Camus, pragmatism and constructivist pedagogy. Education as Philosophies of Engagement: 44th Annual Conference of the Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (PESA), Hamilton, New Zealand, 22-25 November 2014. Claremont, WA, Australia: Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia.
Culturally inclusive design in a multicultural society: dualism, monism, and holism
Park, Ji Yong and Burgh, Gilbert (2013). Culturally inclusive design in a multicultural society: dualism, monism, and holism. KODDCO 2013 International Design Conference, New York, NY, USA, 2 August, 2013. Gyeonggi-do, Korea: 한국디지털디자인협의회 KODDCO.
Philosophy for children: Towards pedagogical transformation
Scholl, R., Nichols, K. and Burgh, G. (2009). Philosophy for children: Towards pedagogical transformation. Annual Conference of the Australian Teacher Education Association (ATEA), Albury, NSW, Australia, 28 June - 1 July 2009. Bathurst, NSW, Australia: Australian Teacher Education Association.
Professional development and training: A case of initiative, inventiveness and re-adaptability
Burgh, G. (2009). Professional development and training: A case of initiative, inventiveness and re-adaptability. XXII World Congress of Philosophy, Seoul, Korea, 30 July - 5 August, 2008. Lewiston, United States: The Edwin Mellen Press.
Burgh, Gilbert (2009). Reconstruction in philosophy education: The community of inquiry as a basis for knowledge and learning. The Ownership and Dissemination of Knowledge, Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia Conference, The Queensland University of Technology, 4-7 December 2008. Brisbane, Australia: Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia.
Actualising research-led teaching and learning within university curriculum
O'Brien, M., Byers, H. K., Huber, T. L., Jacobsen, I., Bulmer, M., Burgh, G., Crosthwaite, C. A., Harrison, J. and Hughes, C. P. (2005). Actualising research-led teaching and learning within university curriculum. Effective Teaching and Learning Conference, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 3-4 November, 2005.
Learning for democracy: Caring, dialogue and deliberative communities
Burgh, G. and Davey, S. L. (2004). Learning for democracy: Caring, dialogue and deliberative communities. Education and Social Action Conference, Sydney, Australia, 6-8 December 2004. Sydney, Australia: University of Technology, Sydney.
Burgh, G. (2003). Human Resource Development in the Asia-Pacific Region: Implications for education (English/trans. Vietnamese). Res. on Culture, Man & Human Res. at the Beginning of 21st Cen, Hilton Hotel, Hanoi, Vietnam, 27-28 November 2003. Hanoi, Vietnam: Inst, of Human Studies, Nat. Ctr for Soc. Sci & Humanities.
Revisioning SOSE: Examining the Role of Philosophy in Contemporary Social Education [OBRO1469]
O'Brien, M. and Burgh, G. (2001). Revisioning SOSE: Examining the Role of Philosophy in Contemporary Social Education [OBRO1469]. AARE Annual Conference, University of Western Australia, Freemantle, WA, December, 2001. Australia: Australian Association for Research in Education.
Jetten, Jolanda, Birch, Stephen, Gilks, Charles, Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca, Burgh, Gilbert and Thorpe, Karen (2020, 12 15). Preserve and protect: how far should governments go in restricting people’s freedoms in the name of public health? Contact Magazine
Is demarchy possible? : a case for ruling and being ruled in turn
Burgh, Gilbert (1998). Is demarchy possible? : a case for ruling and being ruled in turn. PhD Thesis, Department of Philosophy, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2017.152
(2008–2009) ARC Discovery Projects
(2003) UQ Early Career Researcher
(2001–2002) UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
Note for students: Associate Professor Gilbert Burgh is not currently available to take on new students.
Lovers of wisdom on Stolen Land: An investigation into the under- and mis- representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander philosophies in Australian tertiary philosophy education today.
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
The Politics of Authenticity
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
You Say You Want a Revolution: The moral need for global environmental governance in an age of global climate change
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Bringing Arendt and Beauvoir into Conversation on Political Judgment and Violence: a response to moral and political crises today
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Disruptive Philosophies: Eco-rational education and the epistemology of place
(2019) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Teaching for thinking: explaining pedagogical expertise in the development of the skills, values and virtues of inquiry
(2019) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Adaptive demarchy: a flexible model of deliberative democracy for an uncertain political context
(2017) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Playing With Your Self: A Philosophical Exploration of Attitudes and Identities in Games
(2016) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Arriving at a New Beginning: Redefining Socratic Pedagogy
(2009) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
(2021) Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
The Other at the Threshold: A Husserlian Analysis of Ethics and Violence in the Home/Alien Encounter
(2020) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
A Camusian Ethic for Reconciliation: Forgiveness and Grief in Australia, New Zealand and Rwanda
(2019) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Ethics and Aesthetics of Non-duality: Responses to Nihilism from Nietzsche to Camus
(2019) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Deep Reflective Thinking through Collaborative Philosophical Inquiry
(2018) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Transforming Pedagogy through Philosophical Inquiry
(2013) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor