SOPHIA Network meeting – an excursion into Europe

Here in Serbia, where I came from, ‘’arriving into Europe’’ is frequent topic of conversation. Over here it means joining the European Union, the community of peoples where, it is believed, exist different way of thinking, different principles, standards, rules and values – different and better than ours, one that we have developed so far. There are also people in Serbia that persistently claim that we are already in Europe, pointing at the geographical position of our country and our contribution to the European history. They campaign for ‘’staying where we are’’, to carry on with our way and only nurture our values. We do not need Europe – they claim. To be fair, European Union has been protecting itself from us by making almost impossible for the people of Serbia to obtain visa necessary for travelling to Europe. Therefore, for the people in my country every excursion into Europe, like SOPHIA network meeting in Ljubljana, has great cultural, political and professional value. I also believe that this international and multicultural aspect of the meeting is beneficial for all the participants.

To me personally SOPHIA network meeting in Ljubljana gave an opportunity to find out about different projects and different approach to ‘doing philosophy with children’ in Britain, Slovenia, Norway and Holland. At the same time, I was able to take part in Nelson’s Socratic Dialogue led by Karel van der Leeuw, which was new for me.

The people I have meet in Ljubljana were particularly important: some old friends that have introduced me to P4C, Catherine McCall who I have not met before but have heard of and admired her work a lot, our lovely Slovenian hosts and other new people who are now very dear to me. During SOPHIA meeting, we have built the community where thinking together was practiced in the best philosophical manner: it was critical, creative, cooperative and caring. Can   one meeting achieve more?  

Next SOPHIA network meeting is planned for 2008 in Belgrade. I am very pleased about it and hope that we shall all meet again, but also meet new people, have new experience and repeat the pleasure of working together that we have shared in Ljubljana  

Radmila Gošović, Meeting participant

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