Faculty Scholarly Dissemination Grants

Ceaseless Interweaving: Folletts Integrative Process

Department

Liberal Studies Department

College

Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies

Date Range

2012-2013

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities

Abstract

Integration is a central concept in the work of Mary Parker Follett, in some ways comparable to the concept of experience in Deweys philosophy. For Follett, integration is an ontological principle it describes the nature of being and growth. It is also the foundation of her political theory and, later, central to her work with conflict resolution. Integration has become a hot topic in discussions of interdisciplinary work. This paper takes the somewhat unusual step of comparing Follett to contemporary thinkers in interdisciplinary theory in addition to classical American philosophers and as such is intended to demonstrate Folletts possible contribution to a contemporary philosophy of interdisciplinary education. True integration requires working in a power-with rather than power-over environment, a point that has been taken up by contemporary feminists. Follett also addresses the type of education needed to prepare one for integrative work which has implications for contemporary pedagogical practice.

Conference Name

Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy (SAAP) Annual Conference

Conference Location

New Jersey

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