Transforming Lives in Prison: Stoic Experiential Philosophy of the BOECIO Project, Virtual, In-Pers

Abstract

This paper reports on the impact of the philosophical workshops of the BOECIO project, based on the teachings of classical stoicism, developed in Colombian prisons under virtual, face-to-face and hybrid modalities, which have allowed the development of critical thinking, emotional control, ethical training and decision-making capacity in Persons Deprived of Liberty. Through a qualitative approach, the reflections of the workshop participants and the field diary of the educators were analyzed, highlighting the potential of philosophical education to achieve the resocialization of Persons Deprived of Liberty who are serving their sentence in prison. Qualitative results corresponding to the eighteen-month period of development of the project in two penitentiary centers are presented, referring to improvements in the development of critical thinking, government of passions, communication and the capacity for ethical decision-making in Persons Deprived of Liberty.