A Ricœurian Approach to Education: Articulating the “Will-to-Live-Together” and “Conflictual Consensus” in Democratic Societies

This article explores the potential of Paul Ricœur’s political philosophy for conceptualizing education in democratic societies. While Ricœur did not develop a systematic philosophy of education, his work offers rich resources for reimagining education’s role in fostering democratic citizenship. By integrating Ricœur’s scattered reflections on education into his broader political philosophy, this article proposes an educational approach centered on cultivating the ‘will to live together’ through ‘conflictual consensus’. It argues that these concepts provide a compelling framework for managing societal pluralism and developing democratic competencies. The article concludes by offering practical suggestions to implement this educational vision.