In an era of digital distractions and AI-driven media, strategies to reclaim focus—like meditation, unplugging, and reconnecting with nature—are widely promoted. But what if our understanding of attention is shaped by deeper historical forces?
A new open-access article in Educational Theory by Antti Saari and Bernadette Baker explores the long-standing connections between attention, spirituality, and education. The authors trace contemporary concerns about the “attention crisis” back to European Christian monastic traditions, where disciplining attention was tied to both personal transformation and practices of Othering.
Their research uncovers how medieval vigilance and soul-governing techniques became embedded in Christian empire-building, influencing modern educational approaches to focus and distraction. By examining these historical trajectories, the authors reveal how today’s discussions on attention remain entangled with spiritual binaries and exclusionary logics.
Read the full article here.
POISED 