Jan Varpanen's doctoral thesis aims to create a new understanding of what education can be. At the heart of the research are what Varpanen calls co-existential practices. These are everyday activities, such as playing, having conversations or engaging with art, that educators often do with children. According to Varpanen, the educational value of such encounters has not been well articulated in educational philosophy.
“Educational theories focus on teaching and learning. One can even get the impression from the literature that no education takes place if someone does not teach or learn. Children do learn a lot of things through play, but there is much more going on. That's what I'm trying to say in my research," Varpanen says.
Co-existential practices welcome children to our world
“When you look philosophically at play, for example, there are incredible depths," Varpanen enthuses.
Co-existential practices connect with questions about the meaning of life, but in a concrete and everyday way. When a play world or a work of art is built together, adults and children come to reflect on what in this world is worthy of our attention.
Varpanen says he appreciates philosopher Hannah Arendt's observation that children are newcomers among us. In the educational theory debate, Arendt's observation is well known and much used. However, it is often thought to mean that children need a special kind of guidance, a kind of introduction to the world. And this is certainly true. But Varpanen wants to emphasise another aspect of Arendt's idea.
What do you do with newcomers when it comes to, say, a dinner party? You don't just guide the guests. You also try to get to know them, have a drink together, talk about life. Co-existential practices, such as play, for example, are, I think, the same thing in the context of education as a whole. They help to build a relationship with the child, to welcome them into our shared world," Varpanen sums up.
Varpanen is currently working at the University of Tampere as a postdoctoral researcher in the Microbial Childhood research project, moving flexibly between the Political Philosophies and Sociologies of Education (POISED) and Early Childhood Education Institutions, Policies and Practices (ECEPP) research groups. Varpanen is also on the steering committee of the History and Philosophy of Education Research Network.
Public defence on Friday, 31 January
Jan Varpanen's doctoral thesis A Place Regained – re-imaging education with immanence will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Education and Culture of the University of Tampere on Friday 31 January 2025 at 12.00 in the Linna building, room K103 (Kalevantie 5, Tampere). The opponent in the public examination will be Professor Karin Murris of the University of Oulu. The Custos will be Associate Professor Antti Saari of the University of Tampere.
The doctoral dissertation is available online.
The public defence can be followed via remote connection.