For a pedagogy of sheltering

Abstract

The present reflection is an attempt to indicate some theoretical references that can serve for the construction of a pedagogy of sheltering. We know well that education happens with a view to an end: the continuous humanization of the human. But what human? The starting point is the critique presented by philosopher Emmanuel Lévinas of totalizing philosophies. We believe that, despite his deep respect for his Greek and European philosophical roots, Lévinas dared to think of a humanism from another source or rationality, more specifically, Jewish and Talmudic wisdom. Our intention is to focus on a type of humanism, called by Lévinas, the "humanism of the other man" and to forge a pedagogy that we call the pedagogy of sheltering, with a view to forming a human who is willing to transcend himself through attitudes and actions of responsibility toward the other. We believe that the philosophy of alterity proposed by Lévinas can bring to pedagogical knowledge a theory about caring for the other, from a perspective of sheltering and commitment.