Guro Hansen Helskog (Norway)

Guro
Hansen Helskog (Norway) - Associate professor, University of South-Eastern
Norway, the main author of Dialogos, an approach to the practice of philosophy
in education published as a series of six books in 2006-2009, project leader
and author of Fortsatt Foreldre (Perpetually Parents), a psycho educative
program developed as part of her work at Modum Bad Psychiatric Hospital. The program
involves philosophical practice elements, and is now offered at all 60 family
offices in Norway through the Norwegian Directorate for Children-, Youth- and
Family Affairs.
What is the Dialogos approach? (Workshop)
Presentation Language: English
The
Dialogos approach to philosophizing towards wisdom was initially developed by
Guro Hansen Helskog as a way of facilitating Bildungoriented pedagogy from the
mid-1990`s on. Joint investigation of phenomena implied in the Art of living
well is at the core of the Dialogos approach, and during a Dialogos workshop we
work on philosophical ideas and concepts from logical, emotional, experiential,
existential and spiritual starting points and perspectives. Socratic dialogues,
guided imageries, pro-con argumentation, philosophical walks, mind-body
exercises as well as text- and emotion based dialogues are among the exercises
included. It is a form of pedagogical philosophical practice aimed at nurturing
our inner lives and relationships by searching wisdom together from different
angles. What might be the long term fruits of philosophizing the Dialogos Way?
A holistic Dialogos process not only promotes self-knowledge, flexibility of
mind, inner peace and understanding of our relations to others and to the
world. It also creates flexible relationships and deep connection between
people, thus bridging world divides. This is especially important in culturally
and religiously diverse contexts where misunderstandings and conflict can arise
simply due to differences for instance in habits, values or beliefs. It is also
of importance to those of us who live with or work with others, whether
children, youth or adults, and whether in families, communities, in education
and in organizations. That means: Everybody. Dialogos as free space A Dialogos
workshop is thus a school in the classical sense of the word: It is a free
space where people can contemplate and reflect together with others upon
questions of importance to them, personally as well as professionally. Through
philosophizing the Dialogos way, eyes might open. Consciousness might expand.
Our being might flourish. In the long run our lives might even become
increasingly meaningful, and thus better.