9 Ivan Illich’s Tools for Conviviality
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Orla O’Donovan
Abstract
Ivan Illich was in Ireland as a guest of campaigners for alternatives in education, many of whom drew inspiration from his 1971 book Deschooling Society. In the wide-ranging and heated conversation provoked by Illich's stories and opening comments, topics discussed included domestic appliances, education and professionalism. Several of his best-known books, including Tools for Conviviality, which offers thoughts on conversations that took place in the Centre for Intercultural Documentation (CIDOC) in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The Cold War was a crucial aspect of the context in which Illich established CIDOC. Illich emphasised that in principle 'the distinction between convivial and manipulatory tools is independent of the level of technology of the tool'. Illich suggested that fundamental values for the political control of tools are survival, justice and self-defined work.
Abstract
Ivan Illich was in Ireland as a guest of campaigners for alternatives in education, many of whom drew inspiration from his 1971 book Deschooling Society. In the wide-ranging and heated conversation provoked by Illich's stories and opening comments, topics discussed included domestic appliances, education and professionalism. Several of his best-known books, including Tools for Conviviality, which offers thoughts on conversations that took place in the Centre for Intercultural Documentation (CIDOC) in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The Cold War was a crucial aspect of the context in which Illich established CIDOC. Illich emphasised that in principle 'the distinction between convivial and manipulatory tools is independent of the level of technology of the tool'. Illich suggested that fundamental values for the political control of tools are survival, justice and self-defined work.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Acknowledgements x
- Introduction 1
- 1 Thomas Paine’s The Rights of Man 8
- 2 William Thompson’s Practical Education for the South of Ireland 21
- 3 James Connolly’s Labour in Irish History 38
- 4 Robert Tressell’s The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists 54
- 5 Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex 71
- 6 Thomas Szasz’s The Myth of Mental Illness 88
- 7 Kwame Ture and Charles Hamilton’s Black Power: The Politics of Liberation 105
- 8 Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed 123
- 9 Ivan Illich’s Tools for Conviviality 140
- 10 Adrienne Rich’s On Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence 157
- 11 The Brundtland Committee’s Our Common Future 175
- Concluding remarks 192
- Bibliography 198
- Index 211
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Acknowledgements x
- Introduction 1
- 1 Thomas Paine’s The Rights of Man 8
- 2 William Thompson’s Practical Education for the South of Ireland 21
- 3 James Connolly’s Labour in Irish History 38
- 4 Robert Tressell’s The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists 54
- 5 Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex 71
- 6 Thomas Szasz’s The Myth of Mental Illness 88
- 7 Kwame Ture and Charles Hamilton’s Black Power: The Politics of Liberation 105
- 8 Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed 123
- 9 Ivan Illich’s Tools for Conviviality 140
- 10 Adrienne Rich’s On Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence 157
- 11 The Brundtland Committee’s Our Common Future 175
- Concluding remarks 192
- Bibliography 198
- Index 211
