Cultural integration in philosophical dialogue

• Research aimThe aim of this paper is to outline a way of inspiring the growth of a good culture of philosophical dialogue in a group, through a certain perspective on cultural integration, in order to promote a good philosophical dialogue.Methodological frameworkOur reasoning is based on several years of experience of philosophical dialogues in various types of groups: school classes (with children aged from 11 to 18 years), groups of children attending philosophical dialogues on their spare time, folk high-school classes, and university students.ConclusionsOne of the goals of a philosophical dialogue is to make the participants develop certain kinds of qualities, like the ability to think creatively, philosophically and clearly. Developing these kinds of profound qualities takes time and requires a ”good” culture of philosophical dialogue (a concept that is discussed in the paper). Being in a context of philosophical dialogue will make a person familiar with the culture of the dialogue - the person will become an ”elder”. A way of achieving cultural integration for new participants in a philosophical dialogue is to have elders as role models for the beginners. This way, the beginners will be able to learn a way of acting in the context of philosophical dialogue by observing the behaviour of the elders. It is also desirable that the beginners on their behalf make an already existing culture better by bringing their own ways of thinking to it. Learning from others, while also being brave enough to think differently, is essential for the development of good cultures, and human beings.Relevance to Nordic educational researchBeing in a phase of development regarding philosophy with children, Sweden is in need of methods for doing philosophy with children as well as analyses of these methods. This paper discusses a general feature of philosophical dialogues, viz. the culture of the group doing philosophy, and aims to aid practitioners of philosophy with children (in particular in educational institutions) in creating a good culture of philosophical dialogue.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap -- Pedagogik (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences -- Pedagogy (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

pedagogik

filosofi

filosofiska samtal

samtalskultur

integration

förebild

Pedagogik

Education

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)