LLinE Lifelong Learning in Europe

WORKSHOP 5. Buber and Levinas

“Most thought-provoking in our thought-provoking time is that we are still not thinking”.
- Martin Heidegger

WHAT?
This is a workshop that concentrates on fundamental issues: what is thinking? What is ethics? What is learning? What is “doing the right things”? We will approach these huge questions by reading a few inspiring texts by Martin Heidegger, Emmanuel Levinas and Martin Buber. We will discuss questions that these texts generate.

HOW?
As a participant you will get the reading material beforehand by mail so that you have time to read it thoroughly before the workshop. During the session you will first get a short introduction to the theme. The rest of the morning we will spend by discussing the texts and questions inspired by them. The amount of participants is restricted so that there will be enough space and time for discussion and for each to express one’s own thoughts.

WHY?
Thinking is difficult. It requires time, silence, concentration, listening. Sharing one’s thoughts with others may be the most rewarding part of the thinking process. Instead of listening to gurus and following doctrines we will take time to think ourselves and try to listen and share thoughts with others. Having a real dialogue is quite a rare experience. Focusing on the most fundamental aspects of our human existence may sometimes be more substantial, inspiring and fruitful for our daily work than learning the newest trends of our field of specialization.