Theme: Objects to think with (…together) 

This session proposes to explore the role of objects in our individual and collective thinking. We will depart in an exploration of the question:

What (kinds of) objects could enrich thinking together?

Specific guiding questions to be explored in the Dialogue include:

• How can we use (what kinds of) objects for stimulating, supporting, and extending our collective thinking when working together?
• What kinds of objects and usages could support what kinds of modes of interacting and relating for (different forms of) thinking together in epistemically potent environments?
• What (kinds) of (daring) experiments can I envisage?
• In designing a playground for thinking at LiLo what kinds of objects could it include?

Stimulus

An object –  the “Scholars´s Rock” – is the initial stimulus for this dialogue. See an exemplar here 

As a complementary stimulus please see excerpts from the chapter Rosenblum, N. (2007). Chinese Scholar´s Rocks. In S. Turkle (2007) Evocative Objects: Things We Think With (p. 254- 260). MIT STS.

Preparation

Before the session, please read the stimulus material.
The following questions are suggested for a preliminary individual reflection:

• What are my favourite and/or most potent objects to think with? 
• What kind of objects have I engaged with (individually or collectively) that have extended, supported or stimulated the thinking in the most surprising or potent ways?
• If I had a playground to think with, what objects would I like to have available?

Hosting

Host(s): Ana Teixeira de Melo & Leo Caves

Facilitator(s): (as above)

Participation

If you are not currently a LiLo Associate and would like to participate in the Dialogatory, please send an expression of interest.

(For LiLo Associates, the link for participation will be sent internally).

Session Details

Date: October 17, 2026
Time: 15.30h-17.30h (GMT+1, Lisbon)
Status: Upcoming

Note: this session is rescheduled from the original date and time of October 3, 2026 at 09:530

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More information

About the Dialogatory

Full list of previous and forthcoming Dialogatory Sessions

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