Philosophy's Voices in Teaching,and Teachers' Voices in Philosophy: Notes on a Philosophical Conversation

In this article, David T. Hansen addresses a two-year-long philosophical conversation he initiated with a group of dedicated public school teachers who work in a metropolitan setting. The conversation was part of a larger inquiry pivoting around the questions of what it means to be a person in the world today, and what it means to be a person in the role of teacher. Hansen describes the character of the conversation, including its difficult moments, and elucidates the educational values it both surfaced and generated. He shows how philosophical conversation can amplify teachers' voices, and how their perspectives enrich and enhance philosophy. The author also illuminates how philosophical conversation helps disclose the ethical primacy of dignity in teaching and in being a teacher. Hansen argues that the recognition of voice and dignity remain crucial as a counterpoise to the heavy hand of utilitarian ideologies in today's educational landscape.