How to Cite
Sheila. (2013). Transforming conflict: from right/wrong to relational ethics. Latinoamericana De Estudios De Familia, 5, 186–198. Retrieved from https://ucaldas.metarevistas.org/index.php/revlatinofamilia/article/view/4626

Authors

Universidad de Caldas
sheila.mcnamee@unh.edu

Abstract

Abstract: The author speaks about the transformation of conflict and particularly introduces the idea that dialogue really is a way out of the conflict and out of the consensus. This is connected with a notion to which she refers as a relational ethics. She analyzes the implications of dialogue, transformation and relational ethics in terms of how families, communities and education are thought of. She does not talk about a particular way of positioning yourself in front of conflict, or about some specific and practical ways of doing it, but hopes that this relationship with families and education will arise from the conceptual analysis she develops. The author introduces the idea of dialogue, neither as any form of communication nor as conversation. Dialogue is a special form of interaction that does not happen very often and usually does not occur spontaneously; it can certainly happen, but often opportunities to engage in genuine dialogue have to be created. By taking Mikhail Bakhtin’s notion of dialogue ―when he speaks about the dialogue as a responsive activity (responsive dialogue)―, the author poses that being responsive places us as practitioners in what she considers a relational ethics, which is when you are attentive to the process of being related in itself. In other words, instead of focusing on individuals, rather than focusing on certain forms of action, in certain behaviors, in certain objects, in certain entities or contexts, you really should look at what we do together, what is what we are doing or creating together; what kinds of opportunities are emerging? So, if you take this approach on dialogue, it is recognized that there are always multiple ways of looking at a situation. Then the most important aspect of the dialogue is that although there professionists trained on how to handle dialogue, at a certain way, it does not mean that it is the only way to look at a situation. When you think about the families or educational contexts with whom you work, or when you face conflicts and differences within the community, it is important to maintain the idea that there are multiple realities that are constructed, and how you can be responsive to this multiplicity, without judging them.

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