Living theory research as a way of life

Whitehead, Jack ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9644-0785 (2018) Living theory research as a way of life. Brown Dog Books, Bath, UK.

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Abstract

As you have worked on developing practice or knowledge as a contribution to a field or enterprise, have you ever thought, ‘What’s the point?’ For fame or fortune? Or, given that you fulfil your contractual obligations to your employers, clients or customers, and make enough money to keep yourself and your nearest and dearest comfortable and in as good physical, emotional and mental health as possible, is there something in addition that is needed to understand why, what and how you do what you do and hold yourself to account to? A something that enables you to believe your life and work are not only satisfying and productive, but also worthwhile? Many psychologists have proposed various motivational theories, but while they are useful generalities, none of them enables me to explain what it is that gives my life and work meaning and purpose and whether I am making progress with respect to my standards of judgement. Those are questions that I have found Living Theory research has enabled me to ask and evolve responses to that transform practice and knowledge in the process of researching them. Everyone, irrespective of age, stage, context or field of practice, has an influence, for better or worse, in their own lives and learning and that of others. Some people, while trying to improve their field practice and contribute to knowledge of the world, also seek to improve their educational practice to have an educational influence in learning and life and contribute to educational knowledge. My understanding of what is ‘educational’ is learning that is concerned with both enhancing the realisation of one’s own life-affirming and life-enhancing values in practice, and contributing to the flourishing of humanity, flourishing of my humanity, the humanity of other people, and the flourishing of humanity as a species.

Item Type:	Book
Publisher:	Brown Dog Books
ISBN:	9781785452758
Departments:	Academic Departments > Institute of Education (IOE) > Non-Initial Teacher Education (Non-ITE)
Depositing User:	Anna Lupton
Date Deposited:	31 May 2018 12:12
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2024 19:00
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/3893

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