Case study analysis and findings

According to Neill (2005), the educational philosopher John Dewey attempted to overcome the deficits of both traditional and progressive education by stressing that experience is a product of a dialogue between continuity, defined as the individual’s concept of the past, and interaction, defined as the immediate experience of the individual’s environment. Therefore, two students may be experiencing the same phenomenon but react very differently, based upon their past experiences. Similarly, two individuals with the same past may become quite different, if they have different, later environmental influences.

Dewey’s education philosophy may be seen as reflective of the German philosopher Heidegger’s approach to ontology that suggests existence is a “phenomenon of the future” (Korab-Karpowicz, 2018, par.17). But while Dewey suggested that the individual’s situation affects his or her subjective perceptions and life development, Heidegger instead suggested that “the truth of being” itself is “…where we always come to stand. We find ourselves thrown in a historically conditioned environment, in an epoch in which the decision concerning the prevailing interpretation of the being of being is already made for us” (Korab-Karpowicz, 2018, par.29). Thus, according to Heidegger, it is questionable if human beings can ever know truth or if there is any such thing as objective truth. This goes far deeper than the suggestion that subjective perceptions may merely be affected by the individual’s past; since history itself is made up of subjectively influenced individuals, there may be no real truth.

In short, in Heidegger’s estimation the very nature of humanity and the human mind means that human beings cannot know truth and the past inevitably affects perceptions of the present on a macro level. This reflects Heidegger’s answer to his mentor Husserl’s attempt to explain what consciousness is. Unlike Husserl, Heidegger does not view consciousness as a solely inner state, given the need to understand the individual in the context of history and as a historical product (Korab-Karpowicz, 2018).

Korab-Karpowicz, W. (2018). Martin Heidegger. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from: https://www.iep.utm.edu/heidegge/#H3

Neill, J. (2005). 500 word summary of John Dewey’s Experience and Education. Wilderdom. Retrieved from: http://www.wilderdom.com/experiential/SummaryJohnDeweyExperienceEducation.html

Q2. Select one of the forums that you believe may be of value to you given your dissertation field of interest. Dissertation field of interest is (General psychology with emphasis in industrial and organizational psychology) (Assimilation of Individuals with Special needs in local church) Identify the forum topic you selected, and summarize the contents of the existing forum posts for that topic. Why do you believe this forum may be helpful to you? How might interaction in the in forums be a meaningful activity during your dissertation process? Explain.

My main field of interest is industrial and organizational psychology, or how individuals interact in groups. I am particularly interested in the need for organizations such as churches to accommodate individuals with special needs. Quite often people with autism, developmental disabilities, or physical disabilities can experience tremendous benefits by being integrated into a community of faith which supports them. But it cannot be assumed that members will automatically feel comfortable and welcomed by simply treating them the same as other members. Physical and educational accommodations may be needed.
As noted in one of the forum posts, even when a church wishes to be inclusive and not treat individuals with special needs with bias, there may be obstacles of education and subconscious prejudice. The forum can be invaluable to solicit the real, lived experiences of individuals who have encountered this personally or witnessed it, and they can share both what has worked and what has not worked to foster a positive vision of inclusiveness for all. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Accessibility is when the needs of people with disabilities are specifically considered, and products, services, and facilities are built or modified so that they can be used by people of all abilities” (“Inclusion strategies,” 2017, par.7). This is not limited to physical accessibility, but also ensuring that communications (both formal and informal) can accommodate the needs of people with differences and challenges, both hidden and visible. For example, someone on the autism spectrum may feel uncomfortable looking people in the eyes when speaking. Encouraging members not to judge him or her as unkind or unintelligent because of this difference can enable the community to be more open and welcoming to someone with a neurological difference.