An inferentialist reading of play: Agency as self-determination

Drawing upon a Vygotskian framework, this seminar introduces inferentialist resources to discuss children’s agency in terms of rules and their relationship to concept development.

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An inferentialist reading of play: Agency as self-determination

10 Jun 2026, 17:30 – 19:15

Room 631
IOE, 20 Bedford Way
London
WC1H 0AL
United Kingdom

Notwithstanding the extensive research on children’s play and pedagogy, and an emergent literature on agency, there is insufficient attention toward the grounds for enhancing students’ agency through play in schools.

Brandom’s inferentialism offers the possibility of a more fine-grained account of rules as norms governing the application of concepts. This perspective allows for a detailed exploration of how the interdependence of rules and concepts can be mobilised to facilitate the development of children’s agency in play.

PESGB seminar series

This event is part of the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain (PESGB) seminar series. PESGB is a learned society that promotes the study, teaching and application of philosophy of education. Its London Branch hosts seminars every Wednesday in conjunction with the Centre for Philosophy of Education. These seminars are led by national and international scholars in the field, covering a wide range of issues of educational and philosophical concern.

All are welcome to attend.

Image

JohnnyGreig via iStock.

Sarah Oatney-Weiler

Educator

Sarah is a long-time educator with a PhD in Education from the Institute of Education an MA in Global Education from the University of Illinois and an MA in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago.

She has studied and worked as a school leader across three continents: North America, Europe and South America. Throughout her career she has taught from preschool to high school and lectured at the university level.