Commuity Philosophy Project

This new project funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), aims to promote thinking and action about issues of interest and concern to the community.

The project brings together a range of activities that have been used successfully around the country to examine and solve problems, support inter-generational dialogue and celebrate thinking and conversation.

The activities use different forms of stimulus, from photographs to art, drama and outdoor experiences to kick start discussions - called Communities of Enquiry that help groups explore questions they have identified.

The project believes everyone can be philosophical. For us, being open-minded and interested in learning from others is more important than having lots of knowledge, especially when the issues being considered could never be proved by science.

For example, groups ranging from the local residents forum, to people living in sheltered accommodation, to youth groups have explored ideas and questions as diverse as 'Community: what does it mean in today's world?'; 'loneliness'; and 'what shapes our perceptions?'

Communities of Enquiry have proven both interesting and challenging. Participants have bravely worked in new ways and examined often strongly held beliefs.

There is an emphasis on working together and drawing upon the combined resources of others to assist thinking and identify action.

In the future, the project hopes to work with more groups and encourage the participation of people who don't usually get involved in community activities.

The project came about through discussions between Graeme Tiffany (Project Consultant) and JRF/JRHT staff and arose from the Maximising Tolerance, Minimising Nuisance seminar that took place in October 2004.

Graeme worked for a number of years in the community and youth sector and developed a range of methodologies which aim to move conversations on to a different level. His study of the theory and practice of 'dialogue' revealed it was a word more often bandied around than put into practice. As distinct from conversation, dialogue is a process we enter into in order that we can learn. And learning, in this sense, implies being prepared to examine often strongly held beliefs and adopt new ways of thinking, as appropriate. It is a collaborative endeavour that seeks to draw upon the combined resources of others.

Examples of this work have been going on for a very long time. In the days of ancient Greece, Socrates famously posed difficult questions to encourage in depth thinking. More recently, schools have been the sites of Philosophy for Children (P4C). This work seeks to build upon the innate curiosity of children and create a space for them to ask their questions. P4C quickly became adapted into PwC (Philosophy for Communities) which has often brought together different generations to discuss issues affecting their community. Each process uses a range of stimuli to promote Communities of Enquiry (CoE). Examples of this work are to be found in countless community groups all over the land.

More informal activities also take place such as Café Philo, in which a short presentation sets the scene for an evening of conversation, usually with refreshments thrown in.

The project aims to incorporate all of these ideas into its work and develop new ones.

Please do get involved in its activities and help us create a Thinking Village.

We are keen to hear from any person or organisation interested in getting involved

Tel: 01904 735 029 email cpp@jrf.org.uk