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- Title
Philosophical Counselling: Some Methodological Concerns.
- Authors
SIVIL, RICHARD
- Abstract
Philosophical counselling is a heterogenous field. Since the ends of philosophical counselling are diverse, it would be reasonable to assume that practitioners utilize a diverse range of means. While some practitioners endorse methodological eclecticism--the freedom to use any and all philosophical material and methods, I will make the case that a Socratic approach (in which the practitioner assumes the role of a critical dialogical partner with a view to helping the participant access, assess and modify her worldview) is predominant. Widespread application of the Socratic approach might be justified if it was the only and / or best means to attain a general objective of philosophical counselling, or if its application facilitated the realization of a variety of distinct objectives. I will argue that neither condition is satisfied. Firstly, I will argue that the Socratic approach is not the only means to achieve the shared objective of increasing participant autonomy, and that it may not be the most efficacious. Secondly, I will argue that the Socratic approach is inadequate to achieve many of the ends of philosophical counselling. I will conclude that oversubscription to the Socratic approach is unnecessary given the plethora of philosophical means that are available to the practitioner.
- Subjects
PHILOSOPHICAL counseling; COUNSELORS; ECLECTICISM; STOICS; ARISTOTLE, 384-322 B.C.
- Publication
Philosophical Practice: Journal of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association (American Philosophical Practitioners Association), 2023, Vol 18, Issue 1, p3054
- ISSN
1742-8173
- Publication type
Article