Seite - 124 - in Reflective Cosmopolitanism - Educating towards inclusive communities through Philosophical Enquiry

124 REfLECTIvE COsMOPOLITANIsM Exercise: Contradictions (conflict of feelings, feelings and conduct) At the end of the episode, Mohamed faces a conflict between feelings and actions. He likes the sports shoes he has received, but he does not like what his friends have told him about how the shoes were made (conflict between feelings) and he would not like to have to give them back (conflict between feelings and action). These types of situations occur frequently in people’s lives. Up to this point, we have worked on different skills and abilities that allow the students to be better situated when facing conflict, and to be able to consider the different options available, and think about future actions. The following situations ask students to practice those skills, using topics that connect their local actions with the global consequences in the context of diverse culture. While discussing these situations, ask the students the following questions: What options do I have? What is the way forward? 1.a. I like these shoes; they are the most comfortable shoes I ever had. 1.b. I know that buying those shoes is bad for the environment. 2.a. Smoking is not good for your health. 2.b. I like smoking and it makes me feel more grown-up. 3.a. I like that person because s/he is good to others and does not do harm anyone. 3.b. I do not like that person because s/he always hangs out with a group I cannot stand. 4.a. I like that person because he is true to his beliefs. 4.b. I do not like people who believe in a different God from the God I believe in. 5.a. I prefer driving to using public transport – it is quicker and more comfortable. 5.b. I know that using more petrol is bad for the environment. 6.a. I like buying things in the shops where you can find almost anything and most of the products come from China, because they are very cheap. 6.b. I know these shops are cheap because the people who make those things are exploited for their work. Note: This exercise is only designed to make students think about contradictions and conflicts. Students often stick to the socially acceptable answers. The teacher may ask follow up questions. Episode 13: Starting anew Leading Idea 1: Individual and community. Me as an individual and as part of a community This episode brings up a very common conflict: “Since you started hanging out with those people, you are not the same person anymore.” This takes us back to the question of identity: “Who am I?”, “Who am I in relation to the group?”. Discussing the idea of identity in relation to the different groups and spaces in which we belong (family, friends, team, neighborhood, town or city, country) or in relation to the passage of time (how we are different but still ourselves) helps us to reflect on our own diversity and helps us to un-