What it takes is a social field and a social space that facilitates a turn, a bending of our beam of observation back onto ourselves, back onto its source. The bending of the beam of observation is called reflection when it happens as a …

By JULIA BUENO  It took me a very long time to work out the difference between being kind to myself and actually being kind to myself. I used to think a long hot bath, a yoga class or a new pair of shoes would suffice to ease a low patch…

Is empathy something that can be taught in schools? openDemocracy talks to Mary Gordon, founder of Roots of Empathy, who believes that empathy is central to a successful democracy, and can be “caught but not so easily taught:What’s the measure of…

Cultivating empathyThe sobering news is that changes underway in higher education are moving us away from the goal of creating a culture that nurtures empathy.For example, if the culture surrounding us truly shapes our capacity for empathy, then colleg…

The Open Cities Challenge shows that in shaping our future cities, we can start by re-imagining not just the spaces, but the way we participate in decisions and services.The Open Cities Challenge shows that in shaping our future cities, we can start by…