The Interesting as a Pedagogical Concept: An Essay

Abstract

This essay is a philosophical exploration of the concept of the interesting. It draws a line from philosophical aesthetics to the philosophy of pedagogy and argues that an awareness of the nature of the interesting – an awareness of what makes something interesting, aesthetically – can help improve the pedagogical impact of academic lectures. Specifically, the essay argues that something that strikes us as interesting is also something that engages us. Hence, that making lectures interesting will lead to student engagement and to an enhanced learning experience.

With regard to rhetorical composition, the present essay attempts to enact the aesthetical principles that it discusses. Thus, it will not abide by the standard rhetorical academic conventions. (It attempts to be interesting, after all.)

Citation

Seland, A. (2021), "The Interesting as a Pedagogical Concept: An Essay", Sengupta, E., Blessinger, P. and Makhanya, M. (Ed.) Humanizing Higher Education through Innovative Approaches for Teaching and Learning (Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning, Vol. 35), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 13-25. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2055-364120200000035004