may i kindle a light?
sitting at a table with hannah arendt and philosophy for/with children in dark times
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12957/childphilo.2025.89460Keywords:
dark times, hannah arendt, community of inquiry, philosophy for/with children, facilitatorAbstract
This paper draws on Hannah Arendt’s notion of “dark times” to explore how philosophy for/with children (P4wC) can serve as a space for sustaining plurality and connection in a politically sensitive context. Using retrospective qualitative analysis of autoethnographic data, we examine the lived experience of a P4wC facilitator navigating the challenges, tensions, and ethical dilemmas of conducting philosophical dialogue with young adult female students during the 2022 unrest in Iran. Through a philosophical reflection on these experiences, we proposed two essential roles for P4wC facilitators in politically sensitive environments. First, the “Light-Keeper” preserves thoughtfulness and hope, ensuring that philosophical inquiry remains possible despite external and internal pressures. Second, the “Light-Intensity manager” carefully balances the freedom of inquiry with the cultural and political sensitivities of the context, safeguarding the long-term sustenance of the community of inquiry. Although these roles may seem paradoxical, they reflect the complex realities of facilitating dialogue in sensitive or repressive conditions. By engaging in a shared reflection, facilitators themselves, too, can resist isolation and contribute to a broader discourse on philosophy of education in dark times.
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