Ömsesidighet eller substansen i den pedagogiska relationen?

Sammanfattning: What does mutuality mean in a pedagogical relation? This study seeks to explore one of the essential parts in a pedagogical relation, mutuality. From a relational perspective, that lifts the existential element in pedagogics, the study want to contribute with a possible understanding of the concept in order to strengthen the importance of this existential element. Through concept analysis, interpretations of Martin Buber´s relational philosophy and the relational perspective, the aim of the study has been to explore and to understand mutuality and its meaning in and for the pedagogical relation regarding the question of mutuality´s substance, in the sense of the substantial that lies in it. The results of the study shows: Mutuality as a substantive is scarcely described in dictionaries. It usually appears as equivalent to, and explained as, reciprocity. It was though possible to trace differences between the two terms. Mutuality denotes two parts who are involved in the same phenomenon, here and now, while reciprocity includes actions that can have a delay in time. Within the observed fields, the concept has been studied as a human attribute and mainly for its role for humans and society. It is usually used with a preconception where the involved parts, with the mutual action, give each other something they can benefit from. When studied closer, special characteristics were identified. Mainly depending on its context, variations were conditioned to: the origins/initiators of the actions – equally or unequally between parts. Advantage/influence between parts – direct or indirect. The reason for the action – as an obligation, an ideal or a common exchange of benefits. Time aspect – the actions could either keep a certain model or facilitate a sustainable change. The involved parts – either humans or non-human in co-actions. The concept´s essential characteristic, its own substance, could first be seen with help of the relational perspective and Martin Buber´s relational philosophy. By looking in between the parts of a relation and using Buber´s notion of a two folded way to relate to the world (as I to Thou and as I to It) mutuality could be interpreted and understood as a pre-condition, something that is there a priori. A constant abstract ground where the parts can meet each other. A substantial component of the gap in-between the parts, a pre-condition for the relation to be fulfilled. In this way, it is possible to understand mutuality in a pedagogical relation as symmetric, where parts relate to each other equally regardless of their differences, here and now. For mutuality’s manifestation is immediate. It affects and mutates – transforms us, forever. Without this existential, relational understanding of mutuality, it will be, in a pedagogical relation, at risk to be left just as an exchange between parts with an instrumental purpose, where the parts pass by each other and stay unaffected. The person may turn to be an object, pedagogics’ relational ground may be lost and the balance in education may remain deranged.