Applying the Art of Memory to Peace and Justice Pedagogy

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses an approach to teaching peace and justice history which is rooted in the ancient “art of memory,” an ancient art that harnesses the power of visualization. After discussing its philosophical foundations and principles, I propose several modifications which are inspired by the writings of Nobel laureate Bertha von Suttner and Korean philosopher Ham Sok Hon, both of whom see a thread of moral progress in history. In effect, I show how the art of memory can be used to create visualizations on this thread to inform peace and justice pedagogy. I also connect my claims to current findings in the neuroscience of action which demonstrate the power that visualization has on behavior.