SUMMER SEMINAR 2025
Theme: What is Socratic dialogue?
When: 31 May and 1st of June, 9.30–16.00 both days
Where: The Boathouse in the harbour of Höganäs, south of Sweden Link here
What: Small informal yearly seminar on Socratic method arranged by the Swedish Socratic Institute
For whom: Philosophical practitioners and others who are interested in the Socratic method.
Who are the organizers: Sokratiska Institutet (SI) is new non-profit Swedish association with the aim of becoming a hub in the Nordic countries for Socratic practice and its exploration.
Layout of the seminar
Saturday
9.30 Welcome
9.45 Basic Socratic techniques of listening and questioning with Kristof van Rossem
Literature: Article by Kristof – “The art of questioning in the Classroom”
10.45–11.00 Coffee break
11.00–12.00 Kristof session continues
12.00–13.00 Lunch (included)
13.00–14.30 Workshop with Martin Berzell/Tulsa Jansson
14.30–14.50 Coffee break
14.50–16.00 Workshop TBA
17.00–19.00 Sauna by the sea (included but optional)
19.30 Dinner (food included, beverages sold at no profit)
Sunday
9.30 Good morning
9.45 How to lead a group? The ‘light’ philosophical conversation: demonstration and critical reflection with Kristof
Literature: book by Kristof – “The Philosophical Conversation. The basics”
10.45–11.00 Coffee break
11.00–12.00 Group reflection workshop style
12.00–13.00 Lunch (included)
13.00–14.30 Workshop with Mathias Tistelgren
14.30–14.50 Coffee break
14.50–16.00 Workshop TBA
Fee for Swedes: 2000 SEK incl. VAT (1500 excl. VAT)
Fee for non Swedes: 200 Euro
The fee includes: Two-day program, a copy of Kristof’s new book “The Philosophical Conversation. The basics”, coffee in morning and afternoon x 2, lunch x 2 and dinner Saturday night. We will rent a fabulous sauna on the sea close to the venue from 17-19 on Saturday (mixed gender so with bathing suit). The sauna session is also included in the fee.
How to get there: International airport Kastrup in Denmark. Train approx 2 hrs to Helsingborg, and a 30 min bus ride from Helsingborg to Höganäs (bus 220, bus stop Höganäs Busstorget). It's a 7 min walk to the harbor from there.
Where to stay:
Höganäs is a smaller town, if there would be no rooms here one could stay in larger town Helsingborg which is a 25 min bus ride away. But there are also some private houses that lets rooms near by that can be found on booking.
Mail us if you have problems finding a place to stay and we'll try and help you out.
Camping Örestrand approx 3 km from the venue. Link here
Lerberget camping site 2 km away by the sea. Link here
Enroll by paying the fee and mailing us your name and any spedial food requests:
Non Swedish residents: pay 200 euro to
IBAN: SE2850000000056111021052
BIC: ESSESESSXXX
Swedish resident/national transfer pay 2000 SEK to bankgiro 330-6289
NB. Please note your full name and adress on the payment.
Main teacher/Workshop leader
Kristof van Rossem
is Master in Philosophy and in Science of Religions. For more than 20 years now he has been working as an independent trainer in Socratic Dialogue skills an variations. He has led exercises in dialogue and reflection with all kinds of organisations going from prisoners to top managers in Dutch, French and English. Kristof is teacher trainer of philosophy at the University of Leuven where he conducts an annual seminar in „didactics of philosophical conversation“. He also teaches Business Ethics at the Odisee University College of Brussels. He leads an annual training course in Socratic Dialogue facilitation a.o. at the ISVW (International School of Philosophy). He is the author of ‘The Philosophical Conversation. The Basics’ (JohnHuntPublishers, 2024)
Profile :
linkedin.com/in/socratischgesprek
SI-organizers and WS leaders
Tulsa Jansson
Chairman and founder of the Swedish Socratic Institute. Tulsa Jansson founded the Swedish Society for Philosophical Practice 2011. She holds a masters degree in moral philosophy. Her practice consists of conducting socratic workshops, mainly in cooperations, as well as training facilitators and running café-philos.
Martin Berzell
Board member of the Swedish Socratic Institute. Martin Berzell has a PhD in theoretical philosophy, specializing in philosophy of science and metaphysics.In recent years, part of his research has focused on ancient theories of the good life and friendship. About five years ago, he developed an interest in philosophy outside academia and started to dedicate some of his time to philosophical practice with a particular focus on philosophy with children.
Mathias Tistelgren
Board member of the Swedish Socratic Institute.
Mathias Tistelgren is a philosophical practitioner and a high school philosophy teacher. He holds master’s degrees in philosophy and literature. His philosophical practice work mainly consists of training philosophical practitioners, giving workshops and conducting café-philos.
About the venue and area
Höganäs is a small industrial seaside town with a population of 25 000. It is situated 20 km north of the larger town Helsingborg, from where you can take a 20 min ferry to Denmark. We will be at the boat club house right by the jetty/harbor. It is walking distance to bus stop, supermarkets and restaurants.
Höganäs, as well as the many quaint villages along the coast, is a popular destination. Long sandy beaches and its proximity to the natural reserve of Kullaberg has been a well known summer paradise since the end of the 19th century.
