Corpo e infancia: natureza e cultura em confronto

Abstract

This essay provides reflections on the possible theoretical and methodological developments in devising Body and Childhood by considering the existence of an intercon nection between character and culture. Initially we reviewed the details of the duality con cept, which proved insufficient for the understanding of the relationship between body and childhood, either because of focusing their deductions just on the difference and similarity of the biology of the body, or in addressing to cultural determinations, eventually leading to some reductionism. Based on studies of childhood sociology and on childhood philosophy, we seek to outline a possible critical conception of the relationship between childhood and body to, at the same time, understand it as a cultural and biological diversity. Moreover, this paper also discusses, although superficially, some ramifications of thought developed for the practice of teachers working at educational institutions.