FIG. 12 AGORA MODEL

Final report - project MOVE 2017-2018

Surrounding the agora there are four more types of buildings in which we usually spend less time and where we train ourselves to be successful in the four spheres mentioned above: in schools we train ourselves to take on a critical view by using science and philosophy, within religious buildings we search for the meaning of life and universal values, within the theatres and museums we train our imagination and empathy and in the sport arena’s we train our perseverance, competition and sportsmanship. All this takes place within the ecosphere, which is nature.2

Why we chose the agora model?

The agora model gives us a starting point from which we can look at the roles we (can) play in life and the places where we train ourselves to adapt and become successful within those roles. As mentioned above there are four training spheres; the religious sphere, the philosophical (school) sphere, the arts sphere and the sports sphere.

Playing different roles

In our lives we take on different roles and most of the times, we play parts in different spheres within the Agora model. For example, we are a family man, a loyal worker within our company, we play sports or volunteer in the local community home. However, not for all people it is as self-explanatory as it is for some. Most of us have strong bindings with one or two spheres and we stick to them and this can be problematic. We are so caught up in our work that we try to manage everything according to the project management tools we use in our job and we transfer them to our family lives. The two spheres, private sphere and work sphere are too different. There are different rules, norms and values that reside within them.

Inventio

When you engage in different spheres, you are doing what the Romans called Inventio. This derives from the word envenire, which literally means ‘to enter’. You enter a sphere and therefore discover how it works in this particular place. As you enter, you become aware that you will need to adjust a little bit to fit in, but not as much as you would expect to. This way you will lose your rough edges, you become erudite and civilized. You build character because you practice how to engage in this different sphere and learn how to play a different role. If you stay in one place, one sphere, and see the world, only through this perspective, there is the risk you become alienated from the world and will become narrow-minded. This can take on the shape of reductionism. It can make you persistent but

Fig. 12 Agora model

2 R. Gude, Het Agoramodel: de wereld is eenvoudiger dan je denkt, (Leusden 2014). 13