Det meningsfulla mötet : en studie av filosofisk samtalsverksamhet vid svenska folkbibliotek
(2021) ABMM54 20211Division of ALM and Digital Cultures
- Abstract
- The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the phenomenon of philosophical dialogues taking place within a public library setting. I argue that such an investigation be of interest because of the fact that many of the benefits attributed to “public philosophy” - as this kind of activity is often referred to - are also benefits that correspond to values, or aspirations that have been presented as essential to the public library's identity and role within society. These parallels can briefly be said to consist of aspirations to (1) foster understanding and tolerance toward different people and different perspectives through meetings and dialogue; (2) improve citizens’ skills in critical thinking; (3) provide forums for learning – for... (More)
- The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the phenomenon of philosophical dialogues taking place within a public library setting. I argue that such an investigation be of interest because of the fact that many of the benefits attributed to “public philosophy” - as this kind of activity is often referred to - are also benefits that correspond to values, or aspirations that have been presented as essential to the public library's identity and role within society. These parallels can briefly be said to consist of aspirations to (1) foster understanding and tolerance toward different people and different perspectives through meetings and dialogue; (2) improve citizens’ skills in critical thinking; (3) provide forums for learning – for personal purposes and benefits as well as learning in support of public deliberation on societal issues; and finally (4) provide a setting for the exploration of various existential matters regarding how to for example better understand questions of purpose and identity in a postmodern age. In this thesis, I set out to explore whether these parallels, or shared aspirations, have also been identified within actual public philosophy settings taking within public libraries in Sweden today. After having conducted interviews with library staff responsible for arranging public philosophy events at public libraries in Sweden, my conclusion is that all of the shared values of aspirations, except from that of promoting critical thinking, are being identified and also put forth as significant and valuable features and outcomes of the public philosophy sessions. My analysis also shows that the way in which the respondents describe and argue for philosophical dialogues as a practice suitable within the public library setting to a large extent correspond with regulative, normative, as well as culturally embedded notions concerning the public library’s identity and function within society. Because of this, the philosophical dialogues can be regarded as a practice easily submerged within the institutional identity of the public library. This I found is especially evident with regard to aspects of the library’s identity as an advocate of democracy and informal education. In the final segment of my thesis, I demonstrate how these well established aspects of the library institutional identity are being given new interpretations and ways of realization by means of the philosophical dialogue practice.
Master’s thesis (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9050037
- author
- Nilsson, Daniella LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- Meetings with meaning : a study of philosophical dialogue-practices at public libraries in Sweden
- course
- ABMM54 20211
- year
- 2021
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9050037
- date added to LUP
- 2021-06-24 22:00:44
- date last changed
- 2021-06-24 22:00:44
@misc{9050037,
abstract = {{The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the phenomenon of philosophical dialogues taking place within a public library setting. I argue that such an investigation be of interest because of the fact that many of the benefits attributed to “public philosophy” - as this kind of activity is often referred to - are also benefits that correspond to values, or aspirations that have been presented as essential to the public library's identity and role within society. These parallels can briefly be said to consist of aspirations to (1) foster understanding and tolerance toward different people and different perspectives through meetings and dialogue; (2) improve citizens’ skills in critical thinking; (3) provide forums for learning – for personal purposes and benefits as well as learning in support of public deliberation on societal issues; and finally (4) provide a setting for the exploration of various existential matters regarding how to for example better understand questions of purpose and identity in a postmodern age. In this thesis, I set out to explore whether these parallels, or shared aspirations, have also been identified within actual public philosophy settings taking within public libraries in Sweden today. After having conducted interviews with library staff responsible for arranging public philosophy events at public libraries in Sweden, my conclusion is that all of the shared values of aspirations, except from that of promoting critical thinking, are being identified and also put forth as significant and valuable features and outcomes of the public philosophy sessions. My analysis also shows that the way in which the respondents describe and argue for philosophical dialogues as a practice suitable within the public library setting to a large extent correspond with regulative, normative, as well as culturally embedded notions concerning the public library’s identity and function within society. Because of this, the philosophical dialogues can be regarded as a practice easily submerged within the institutional identity of the public library. This I found is especially evident with regard to aspects of the library’s identity as an advocate of democracy and informal education. In the final segment of my thesis, I demonstrate how these well established aspects of the library institutional identity are being given new interpretations and ways of realization by means of the philosophical dialogue practice.
Master’s thesis}},
author = {{Nilsson, Daniella}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Det meningsfulla mötet : en studie av filosofisk samtalsverksamhet vid svenska folkbibliotek}},
year = {{2021}},
}