La ferita di Medusa. Riflessione pedagogica sulla vulnerabilità umana e sociale

The aim of the study is to define vulnerability from a pedagogical point of view. First of all, the author affirms that vulnerability can be understood as an anthropological description of the human condition and promotes a return to the meaning of person by proposing to reflect on the vulnerable person faced with an increasing sense of insecurity in today’s society. In fact, this approach suggests the need to develop arguments to support some essential attributes of humanity like vulnerability (see Barcellona’s Declaration) and to discover in them the seed of a renewed commitment to solidarity and responsibility. Therefore the study deals with several aspects of vulnerability: the nature of corporeal vulnerability as a non-eliminable aspect of existence, the ethical dimension of vulnerability and the concept of social vulnerability. In this regard, the author underlines that vulnerability is improperly used to designate particular individuals and populations deprived of their capabilities, because it is a feature of all humanity. Furthermore it explores educational strategies that focus on vulnerability as essential human condition and promote the development of socio-political skills needed for human rights observance.