Exploring the Ethical Foundations of Research of Empathy and Compassion in Globalizing Education

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 29
  In Roundtable Session: Cultural Historical Activity Theory Ecologies of Learning and Boundary Crossing: Reimagining Social Futures, Redefining Language and Ability, and Renegotiating Cultural Identities

Abstract

This paper explores what a postcolonial approach to research ethics implies for interventionist research in education. The argument is illustrated by discussing different approaches for promoting empathy and compassion in educational research. Four ethical principles are derived from the literature to guide the analysis and critical discussion. Using these principles, the paper discusses and critically scrutinizes two prominent approaches for researching empathy and compassion in education: the PISA global competencies framework and Martha Nussbaum’s cosmopolitan approach. The paper also presents a new cultural-historical activity theoretical approach for researching and promoting compassion in terms of cultures of compassion. Based on the idea of formative interventions and transformative onto-epistemology, it embodies a social transformative stance and seeks to create compassionate educational institutions.

Authors

• Antti Juhani Rajala, University of Oulu

• Jaakko Hilppö, University of Helsinki

• Lasse Lipponen, University of Helsinki

• Anna Pauliina Rainio, University of Helsinki