Ludosofici: Philosophy for Children Through Art and Play

The Ludosofici project, founded seven years ago by a group of philosophy graduates, aims to make philosophical concepts accessible to children through laboratory activities and accessible language. The project integrates contemporary art as a tool for emancipation, using it to work on concepts in a practical way. Dialogue initiates the work, but practice develops it, employing voice, body movement, and gestures. Key themes include identity, recognition of otherness, subject formation, ways of seeing, beauty, and stereotypes. Objectives include strengthening critical thinking, fostering unconventional perspectives, and generating questions. Laboratories often begin with a concept or directly with artistic practices, adapting to context. An example involved artist Albano Morandi for a workshop on fullness and emptiness. Another workshop at Palazzo Ducale in Mantua, inspired by Leibniz and the Baroque aesthetic, used a cardboard labyrinth adapted to the space, with results changing when rebuilt elsewhere. Play is fundamental for establishing shared rules and enabling creativity within a defined perimeter. The project prioritizes theory over practice, using practice to renew ideas. The book 'Socrate e i Ludosofici' was published by Corraini Edizioni in 2014.