Example 1: Workshop with financial managers on “Conflicts of Recognition”

 

In a workshop on “Recognition Conflicts” with a group of managers from the KFW - one of the world’s leading promotional banks based in Frankfurt – we discussed why recognition of others are so important for the individual and why the struggle for recognition is so crucial (and conflict-laden) in professional life. We elaborated on different forms of recognition (emotional care, respect, social esteem) in their relation to the workplace. By the end of the workshop, the participants developed a common understanding of how to distinguish between justified/reasonable and unjustified/unreasonable recognition claims by employees, how to respond to these two different claims, how to avoid misrecognition and how to analyze conflicts that can arise from a struggle for recognition.

 

Example 2: Neo-Socratic dialogs with trainees on “Freedom” and “Justice”

 

A series of philosophical dialogs on the concept of freedom and justice with trainees of one of the most well-known meat industry companies in Europe. The vast majority of these trainees were immigrants from various non-EU countries.  The dialogs helped them to articulate their – in many cases very different, even contradicting –ideas about what should count as the just and treatment of trainees in the work place and the kinds of freedom and independence they are entitled to. Through the exchange of in part controversial arguments, the participants could reach a wide understanding and agreement on these questions. Additionally, these dialogs articulated a number of subtle practices of discrimination that deeply affected these trainees and that emerged as a critical form of injustice. Representatives of the training school of the firm, who also attended the dialogs, were previously unaware of these discriminatory practices and (developed a plan to address them?).