Philosophical Practices today

For ten years now, Philosophical Practices, a practical form of philosophical thought, has been making its contribution to companies and organizations in Europe and the rest of the world. What is Philosophical Practices all about? What has been done? How has it been used and what are the results?  

Philosophical Practices in Italy

In Italy the discipline is growing. Is it possible that in Italy too, businesses and organizations are using Philosophical Practices to achieve some of their own objectives? What are some of the motivating factors for entrepreneurs and managers? What can they expect from it? And again, what kinds of examples have been seen in Italy?  

An inquiry-book

We intend to answer all the questions posed above through an enquiry – book, a book which illustrates some of the most important work and activities carried out by Philosophical Practitioners in European and Italian organizations and businesses. Special attention will be given to the activated processes and the output produced.  

A book -debate

The book will not only be an enquiry but also a debate, a book in which businessmen, managers, organizational consultants and philosophical practitioners can find confrontation and comparison, and answers to the following questions: how can Philosophical Practices help an organization? What results can it produce? What are its specific characteristics and what distinguishes it from other disciplines and operational models? And finally, how and with what models and processes does it operate? 

A common project

With this aim, the authors are approaching all the protagonists in the field - businessmen and managers, organizational consultants and philosophical practitioners – to do exactly what Philosophical Practices proposes: join in shared reflection, a common search, a journey of discovery and group creation of concepts and actions whose conclusion is and should be undefined.   

The book will be published by Apogeo (Italy). Editor Virginio Sala.  

The authors

Paolo Cervari  has been a copywriter, author and consultant in communication, and for several years has been involved in education and consultation for organizations, with a special focus on individual development. He is a problem solver and strategic coach at MRI in Palo Alto (California, USA), philosophical Consultant and head of the Organizations and Lombardy Region sections of Phronesis (Italian Association of Philosophical Consultation). 

Neri Pollastri President of Phronesis (Italian Association of Philosophical Consultation) is one of the first and best known philosophical consultants in Italy. He has worked with individuals, groups and organizations. He has collaborated with various universities and his publications include Thought and Life (Il pensiero e la vita- Apogeo), Seeking a Philosophical Consultant (Consulente Filosofico cercasi - Apogeo) and Man is What He Thinks (L’uomo è ciò che pensa - Di Girolamo).   

                 INDEX

 A dialogue

Introduction with a dialogue, a dispute in “medieval” style between the Philosopher and the organization.

 For example …

Narration of a key experience in Philosophical Practice in an organization. Brief final reflections on the experience, particularly on the effects of the activated group and individual processes. Interviews with some of the participants in the experience and/or the clients. The aim is to introduce the reader in a “surprising” way (wonder is always the best motive for philosophy) to philosophy for organizations.

 Philosophy put into practice

From the concrete to the abstract, and back again. From literature to the process of thinking. Philosophical Practise as tools and services. The aim is to distinguish traditional philosophy and philosophical practice, generally outlining some first “models” (consultation on problems, Socratic Dialogue, Research Community…). On these bases it will be possible to discuss some important questions.  In what way could philosophy be of service to an organization? Brief reflection and general framing of the problem from our point of view. Basically, a discussion about philosophy’s “usefulness” to organizations. “Useful” in which meaning? How could it be “useful”? Could it be useful for “profit” or people (and do the two meanings really contradict each other)?  Opinions are taken from the philosophers of Philosophical Consultation, such as Foucault and Pierre Levy, which involve the concept of collective intelligence. There are also those of sociologists and economists (for example, Amartya Sen), that deal with the relationship between the aims of the organization, and the social, ethical and political aims. There is an interesting critical reflection on the future of the economic and productive system, the environmental paradigm, and the “incomplete democracy” (Bobbio) in the world of work. The thrust of this chapter is theoretical, but the language must remain non-academic.

Philosophy according to the organization

What does the organizational world think about its relationship to philosophy and philosophical practice? Opinions of (Italian) businessmen and managers (through interviews). (We intend to explore opinions and prejudices held by the organizational world toward philosophy to highlight what could be of interest to those working within it and, vice versa, what might impede its use). Opinions of (Italian) organizational consultants (The aim is to establish from their point of view: 1) whether or not philosophical practice could be used in organizations; 2) whether or not what philosophical practice is doing, is already partially being done by other practices or methodologies; 3) What could be done specifically by philosophical practice)

And meanwhile in a foreign country…

A narration of five or six case examples of activity from abroad. A summarized mapping of foreign experiences

 On the contrary, in Italy…

A narration of three or more examples of activity in Italy. A summarized mapping of Italian experiences 

 Discussing together

A round-table discussion with a pair of philosophical practitioners, a pair of businessmen/managers, and a pair of organizational consultants. Starting from what we have written and gathered (as if they had already read the preceding material) it would be a fine thing to make this a public event.

 Conclusion: State of the art and future perspectives

 Proposals and Models

Concrete and operative proposal. Some models and directions for possible philosophical activities in organizations.

Final note on economy, ethics, politics and philosophy

Where there is a broader perspective on the relationship between these eminently human activities: can one remain separate from the other? On what is the social bond based? Could the practice of philosophy provide an answer to these questions?