A+philosophical+hermeneutic+orientation+to+practicing+the+civic+art+of+community+engagement

**A philosophical hermeneutic orientation to practicing the civic art of community engagement** Marie Sandy, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee [sandym@uwm.edu] **Keywords:** Philosophical hermeneutics, phronesis, social change, theoretical framework

**Track:** Theoretical or conceptual frameworks to advance research

**Format:** Research paper


 * Date & time: **Thursday 3:20-4:30
 * Location: **Salon 1

**Summary:** Philosophical hermeneutics – which means translation or interpretation – complements the pragmatic theory that informed the field of service-learning, and with its emphasis on community and respect for others, can offer an orientation to further our work in a mutually satisfying way for scholars, practitioners and community partners. Its theme of //phronesis// or “practical wisdom” provides an epistemological foundation to frame community engagement as a civic art that values conversation, participation, and the common good.

Phronesis is based on an ancient concept of knowledge that is involved with the art or craft of human affairs at both at the individual level and collective levels. Hans-Georg Gadamer’s approach provides an avenue for using phronesis as an epistemological foundation may help move us closer to actualizing what Goodwin Liu (1999) refers to as the necessarily “marginal epistemology” of community engagement where knowledge is understood as a function of conversation. This “personal-collective” framework also means hermeneutics understands political work as occurring anytime two people engaged in the world connect, if they are intentional about the interaction.

This perspective therefore encourages including a range of “charitable” and “politicized” activities in service-learning programs in ways rarely combined today (Mitchell, 2008). This paper describes Gadamer’s treatment of the roles of conversation, participation and the public good. These philosophical and methodological considerations also provide a specific framework for improving reciprocal communication within community-campus partnerships, community-based research and service learning programs.

**References:** Butin, D. (2005). //Service-learning in higher education: Critical issues and directions.// New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Eyler, J., & Giles, D. (1999). //Where’s the learning in service learning?// San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Gadamer, H-G. (1975). //Truth and method// (Sheed and Ward, Ltd. Trans.). (2nd ed.). New York, NY: The Crossroad Publishing Company. (Original work published 1960)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;"> Gadamer, H-G. (1998). Praise of theory. C. Dawson (Trans). In H-G Gadamer (Ed.), //Praise of theory// (pp. 16-36). New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. (Original work published 1983)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Herda, E. (1999). //Research conversations and narrative. A critical hermeneutic orientation in participatory inquiry.// Westport, CT and London: Praeger.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Liu, G. (1999). Knowledge, foundations, and discourse: Philosophical support for service-learning. In C. Lisman & I. Harvey (Eds.), //Beyond the tower: Concepts and models for service-learning in philosophy// (pp. 11-33). Sterling, VA: Stylus.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Mitchell, T. (2008). Traditional vs. critical service-learning: Engaging the literature to differentiate two models. //Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 14,// 50-65.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Rice, R. E. (2003). Rethinking scholarship and engagement: The struggle for new meanings. //Campus Compact Reader: Service Learning and Civic Education, 2,//1-9.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Rosaen, C., Foster-Fishman P., & Fear, F. (2001). The citizen scholar: Joining voices and values in the engagement interface. //Metropolitan Universities//, //12//, 10-29.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Sandy, M., & Holland, B. (2006). Different worlds and common ground: Community partner perspectives in campus-community partnerships. //Michigan Journal of// //Community// //Service Learning, 13,// 30-43.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Sigmon, R. (1979). Service-learning: Three principles. //Synergist, 8,// 9-11.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Ward, K., & Wolf-Wendel, L. (2000). Community-centered service learning. //American Behavioral Scientist, 43//(5), 767-780.

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