Page - 89 - in Reflective Cosmopolitanism - Educating towards inclusive communities through Philosophical Enquiry

CHRIsTIAN (MANUAL) 89 CHRIsTIAN (MANUAL) Episode 1: First day of class Leading Idea 1: Solitude, loneliness It´s the first day of class, a situation we have all been through and which normally creates uncertainty, anticipation, and many other emotions. Some of these feelings could also be related to fear and loneliness. When we arrive in a new environment and we don’t yet know anyone, or the customs or rules, we can often feel lonely and/or lost. Feeling lonely is not the same thing as being alone. One may choose to be alone at times (choose to be in solitude), and the phrase “I am alone” doesn’t always have negative connotations. In contrast, feeling lonely seems less of a choice, more unwanted. These discussion plans lead us to reflect on the idea of being alone, considering when it is a matter of solitude and when it is a matter of loneliness (this helps to distinguish when it is a state or an emotion, when and why it might be considered a good thing, and when and why it may be considered negative). This episode is also meant to introduce the social dimension of human beings, and is a good opportunity to reinforce empathy within the group through the identification of common feelings and ideas. In order to create a community of enquiry, during these first sessions it is important for the teacher to help the participants to identify and reflect on common feelings and ideas. Discussion Plan: Being alone, feeling lonely Ask your students these questions – Tell them to give their reasons. 1. Can a fish be alone? 2. Can a table be alone? 3. Can a table feel lonely? 4. What is the difference between being alone and feeling lonely? 5. Is it possible to feel lonely while being surrounded by people? 6. Is it possible to feel accompanied while having no one around you? 7. If I had never met anybody else, could I feel lonely? Would I know what it means to feel lonely? 8. Is feeling lonely the same thing as feeling invisible? 9. Do you like being alone? 10. Would you like to always be alone? And to always be accompanied? 11. Is being alone something good? 12. Do you like feeling lonely? 13. Is feeling lonely something good? 14. Is it possible that we make ourselves feel lonely? 15. Is it possible to make someone else feel lonely? 16. Is making somebody else feel lonely a good thing?