Prática de Ensino com a Disciplina Eletiva: uma experiência filosófica sob o viés do cuidado de si na perspectiva de Michel Foucault

Abstract

This dissertation aims to present a philosophical path developed in the Elective Subject, a curricular component instituted in the reform of the current high school. In the course The Hermeneutics of the Self, Michel Foucault exposes a conceptual-historical analysis of the Greek notion of “care of the self” (epiméleia heautoû), demonstrating its evolution since Greek culture until the beginning of the Christian era. This concept encompasses a significant part of the life of the self and results from uncountable exercises, being an essential element for the engagement in a better life. Thus, Foucault understands the care of the self as an essential aspect for self-development and philosophy. In this paper, we consider the formative element of the care of the self as a possible experience for the development of young people in high school. The exercise of oneself proposed in Foucault’s analysis brings a conception of philosophy that can be useful for addressing the formative demand of the student in high school. Considering the radical changes in the educational scenario due to the high school reform – which has in its proposal the integral capacitation of the student, the enlargement of workload and the division between Basic General Education and Formative Itinerary –, we propose a practice of teaching with the Elective subject, curricular component of the new Curricular Matrix. By that we intend to show that, given the current scenario, the philosophy teacher in Mato Grosso do Sul has many possibilities to develop a philosophical work at school.