Personalia

Dr. J.P.Kessels (1948) studied law and philosophy and worked as musician, journalist and lecturer in philosophy. He conducted research into the philosophy of science and the didactics of philosophy with as his speciality the theory and practice of the Socratic dialogue. He gained his doctorate in 1989 with a thesis on epistemology, a developmental research into philosophical didactics (Utrecht, 1989). From 1985 until 2000 he was a lecturer at the University of Utrecht. In 1990 he founded Dialogue Consultants in order to be able to apply the Socratic method in the corporate and business environments as well as in educational circles. Jos Kessels has conducted Socratic dialogues in a great number of organisations, to analyse fundamental issues and to initiate joint learning. He has published numerous articles and books over the last twelve years. In 1999 he and Erik Boers founded The New Trivium.

Drs. H. Boers (1960) studied philosophy and Dutch language and literature in Amsterdam. He lectured in philosophy at the Free University of Amsterdam from1983 to 1987. During his studies he and several lecturers initiated a new course of studies in Philosophy and Organisation. He subsequently worked as a staff member at the International School of Philosophy in Leusden. Between 1989 and 1993 he worked for the management training department of Philips Electronics Netherlands, after which he joined a leading Dutch training & consultancy firm. He became an independent trainer and consultant in 1997 and partner of Learning Consortium, an international network of innovative and experienced consultants and trainers. In 1999 he founded The New Trivium together with Jos Kessels.
Erik Boers is still a guest lecturer in the Philosophy of Management and Organisation at the Free University of Amsterdam.