Our current times promote a sense of restlessness where life is not always perceived as meaningful but instead often makes us slaves to self-control and our own performance drive. We live in a control society where self-disciplining has become increasingly intensified during the last decade, a trend that is resulting in disempowerment. In societies organized on the basis of neoliberal ideas, self-disciplining becomes the central issue that dominates the social discourse of society and thereby our social relations.
As a counterpoint to this trend, Han (2017) – in his book The Scent of Time: A Philosophical Essay on the Art of Lingering – reaches back to a concept from Heidegger, Besinnung – reflective thought – and the vita contemplativa. We need to reflect upon who we are, whom we want to be and at the end of the line reflect upon moral values as a guiding source for our action. In order to find our way back to ourselves and regain our strength, we need to be able to linger – on our own, with a coach, with a colleague, with a friend or in a group of people who share this desire. We need to reflect on what we stand for and in specific situations we need to stand firm.
The intention with the session is:
• to initiate a dialogue for the groups of participants about specific values (e.g. care, courage, responsibility)
• to discuss what values are as a concept regarding social constructionism
• to discuss the further development of social constructionism and possible supplements from other theoretical positions (e.g. phenomenology)