Page - 125 - in Reflective Cosmopolitanism - Educating towards inclusive communities through Philosophical Enquiry

CHRIsTIAN (MANUAL) 125 derstand diversity in others. In episode two, we looked at identity in relation to a place of belonging. Now, we look at identity in relation to groups and the places they belong to. Wenger describes our reality as a constellation of communities, where people belong to several communities simultaneously. Those that act as “links” between communities are especially important, as they enable opportunities for mutually beneficial exchange. Bochdan is one of these “link” people who might help Christian get to know the girl he likes in the other group. We are situated in various communities, and the combination of all these connections is part of what defines us as individuals. Identity understood as the integration of several selves, together with an understanding of how we manage this inter- nal plurality, can help us understand how we might also handle external plurality. You can find further resources to explore the concept “diversity” in the manual to Ella, episode 3, leading idea 2 “Diversity”, discussion plan “Diversity”. Discussion Plan: Me in plurality, in diversity 1. Are you always the same person in all the groups you belong to? (i.e. family, friends, team, school) 2. If not, when do you feel happier with yourself? For example, do you prefer be- ing at school? 3. If you act differently, do you continue being the same person, or are you a differ- ent person each time? If the person does not change, what changes? 4. Is always being the same better than being diverse? 5. Is it easier to be the same or diverse? 6. Is what is easy always better? 7. What are you to the greatest extent: more student? More son or daughter? More a team fan? More Ecuadorian, Spanish, Dominican, etc.? 8. Why are you more… than…? 9. Can you be a student and a son or a friend to the same extent? 10. Is it more necessary to be a student or a son or friend? 11. When others describe you and when you describe yourself, which description fits you better? 12. Did you have the same friends before starting school? Was that you? 13. Why are you sure that you are you? 14. Do you choose who you are? Exercise: Flexibility “Tree and Reed lived together on the top of a hill. Tree protected Reed from the sun with his shade and Reed reacted to Tree’s boredom by tickling him and dancing for him. One night, during a terrible storm, Tree was struggling to stay rooted while Reed danced, adapted, and dodged the wind. The following day, the battered Tree told Reed how he admired how Reed had not lost any of his beauty. Reed thanked him but reminded him that wind to the tree was as sheep to Reed.” Adaptation of the popular “Reed Tale” by Nacho García Pedraza