(NEW) Federico Emmanuel Mana (Argentina)

What is the difference between a "philosophical counsellor" and a "traditional philosopher"? Firstly, we must say that while the "traditional philosopher" developed a theoretical and academic life, the "philosophical counsellor" looks forward to apply the theory in different ways, actions and events. Nevertheless, this distinction is a little bit abstract and weak because "philosophical counselling" is not a concept that takes a definition with the simple act of using it. Therefore, the hypothesis here presented will be a short exposition of a doctoral thesis in progress: applied philosophy means to work with a method that functions like a bridge between two points: departure and arrival. Which are these points? Departure: the preconceptions of each philosopher regarding humanity, existence, happiness, etc. Arrival: their objectives in the field of counselling. That is to say, the philosophical practitioner should outline the theory like the "traditional" one and also outline the strategies for such theories to have an impact in people's lives. This way to conceive philosophical counselling will guide us to take a position in an always open discussion in this discipline: the application or not of a method. The point of this lecture will be exploring the idea that the use of a method is inevitable if we want to develop philosophical counselling because we need a strategy to build a bridge between our theory that will sustain our work along with our goals to achieve in our practice. 

Void and fiction: a new methodological approach for philosophical counselling (Presentation)

A doctoral thesis, like all research work, is a slow process that is carried out in steps, some forwards, others backwards. For this reason, what will be presented here are some partial conclusions of my own research about the possibility of a new methodological approach for philosophical counselling. It is hoped to open the debate with the rest of the colleagues on a new way: thinking of doing philosophical counselling taking into account the concepts of "fiction" and "void". For this I propose the existence of dialectic: void emerges when there is a rupture of meanings. The void generates rejection in the people who seek to fill it quickly. This is how fiction emerges as a discursive structure that presents a reality from the "as if". This makes the uncertain become familiar, the void quickly filled. But what if these fictions generate existential conflicts? This is the question that motivates this methodological approach.
It raises six steps:
• Presentation of the problem
• Pose the problem
• Interpellation of fiction
• Questioning the void
• Self-discovery
• Re-construction
In this presentation I will seek to show why I support the existence of the dialectic of void and fiction, how to develop these steps and also what some partial results of this approach have been from experiences on its application.