Myth, Image, and Dialogue: New Approaches to Philosophical Counselling and the Transformative Contribution of Religious Thought and Symbolic Languages
Keywords:
Philosophical counselling, Philosophical practices, Dialogue, Hermeneutics, Symbol, Symbolic language, Myth, Symbolic imagination, Religious anthropologyAbstract
Building on the revival of philosophical counselling initiated by Achenbach and further developed by Lahav, this study restores philosophy to its original dimension as a lived practice oriented toward reflection, dialogue, and the search for meaning rather than problem-solving. The theoretical analysis highlights the epistemological autonomy of philosophical counselling in relation to psychotherapy, counselling, and spiritual direction, emphasizing the centrality of questioning. The research explores the hypothesis that symbolic languages, particularly myths and images derived from religious traditions, can function as secular, epistemic, and transformative tools. Through a study involving 43 participants, philosophical consultations were conducted integrating mythological narratives and related visual representations. Participants identified the potential value of a form of symbolic philosophical counselling capable of integrating rational reflection and imagination, fostering new understandings of their worldviews.
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