Discussion for philosophical purposes

In a nutshell, the DVP (discussion with a philosophical aim), with a very formal animation, allows a group to learn to mobilize the three main operations of the philosophical discussion: to argue, conceptualize, problematize. It makes it possible to deal with a complex subject by favouring reason rather than opinion. It is also an approach that allows us to learn to listen, to tolerate the thoughts of others...

The objective

of the DVP is therefore threefold: - work on transversal skills: listening, concise speech, reformulation, respect for difference, formulating ideas and questions, etc.
- contribute to the questions of "Humanity" without seeking a definitive answer
- mobilize and work on capacities to philosophize: argue, problematize, conceptualize.

Process

• Propose or bring out a "philosophical" theme and question (of interest to all people, open to several answers, which can be discussed with the common language)? For example: can we be ourselves with others? What is it to be an animal? Is domestication a renunciation of ethics?
• Define roles and allocate them
• Recall the rules and capacities to be mobilized to discuss philosophically
• Launch of the discussion/reformulation(s)/end of the discussion when the planned time has expired.

Duration: from one hour to 1h30. Number of participants: 15 and more

Roles

• the participant(s): he/she must advance the discussion on the question raised by respecting the process of philosophical discussion
• the President: assists the facilitator in time management, speaking tours, setting up the framework. This role can be confused with the facilitator.
• the reformulator: at the invitation of the moderator or the chairperson, it mirrors the status of the group on the question posed. The reformulation can be done once or twice depending on the duration of the workshop
• the synthesizer/secretary: at the end of the session, he/she reports on all the explorations, answers and trends that were covered in the discussion.
• the facilitator: It is the true animator in the etymological sense: who gives breath, strength and life. The facilitator brings to life the essence of the principles of DVP: to stimulate discussion, mobilize capacities, relaunch, propose reformulations, converge questions, arguments, or on the contrary point out contradictions in the discussion: "but then, how can the animal be assimilated to the human being if it differs from it...?". The facilitator does not give his opinion but supports the participant in their questioning, relaunches a question that has not been answered, reminds a participant that he/she must argue, rephrases if a participant was not clear, or suggests that another participant reformulate, ... The role is both facilitator and guide and he/she must not forget to rely on his/her team (reformulator and president).

The meeting is closed at the invitation of the President.

The ability to discuss with a philosophical focus

This aim of the debate is to:
- Conceptualize: make a notional distinction, have it defined (what are the different forms of animalities? Are there several ethics? Which ones? ...)
- Problematize: ask questions from the question. Question an argument, an example,...
- Argue: give examples, base a proposal for an answer or a point of view,...

References

PHILOCITY sheet: http://www.philocite.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PhiloJeunes_Belgique_PhiloCite_Fiches_methodo_03_La_DVDP.pdf
ALL about DVP
www.philotozzi.com

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