About the
Status Quo Project
Who We Are
Since our inception in August 2021, the Status Quo Project has sought to empower youth by providing resources and opportunities to engage in philosophical inquiry. We are dedicated to reviving a passion for philosophy within the high school community, especially in regions where the subject is not formally taught.
Our goal is to provide a nurturing environment where intellectual curiosity knows no boundaries, and where aspiring philosophers can access the resources they need to flourish, regardless of their background or socio-economic status. Through our initiatives, we hope to increase one’s understanding of the world, one's community, and oneself.
There are three problems we aim to solve…
01 The Decline in Philosophical Engagement
Philosophy has experienced an unfortunate decline in interest, passion, and opportunities—a trend that has worsened over time. The dominant social narrative depicts philosophy as impractical in one’s career and, thus, not worth investment. At the Status Quo Project, we wish to reverse this flawed narrative. We want our members to recognize that there are incredible opportunities that can be found in the realm of philosophy; we strive to provide students with an opportunity to engage in the beauties of the subject and find ways to apply philosophy in everyday life.
02 The Inaccessibility of Education in Philosophy
The inaccessibility of education comes in many forms. The abstractness of language and jargon in most textbooks makes philosophy seem like a hyper-exclusive subject. This problem is a strong deterrent for students, contributing to a problem of worsening engagement in philosophy. Even for youth who have an interest in learning, there are many socio-economic barriers that prevent the average student from accessing a supportive community of philosophers and a base of resources. Due to this, we hope to make philosophy a less intimidating subject and are committed to providing free, global access to our online resources, workshops, and conferences.
03 Underrepresentation of Marginalized Perspectives
In the realm of philosophy, as in many academic disciplines, there exists a pressing issue of underrepresentation of racial, gender, and ethnic minorities. This problem not only deprives these voices of the opportunity to contribute to philosophical discourse but also hinders the entire philosophical community from evolving. We firmly believe that a genuine consideration of diverse ideas and perspectives is necessary for the advancement of philosophy and one’s personal growth. As a result, our communities and educational opportunities are designed for a global community and students from all backgrounds. We seek to platform the voices of marginalized communities and hope to connect philosophers around the world to peers who hold different beliefs.