The Philosophical Influences That Have Shaped Coaching

P Jackson, C Elaine International Journal of Coaching in Organizations 2009

This paper explores the impact of philosophical thinking on coaching practice. In particular it looks at the epistemology of Socrates (via the writing of Plato), Locke, Hume, Kant, and Dewey. Key concepts from each philosopher are introduced and the ways in which their thinking informs modern coaching practice are explored. In this article, the authors contend that coaching is an application of philosophy in two ways: firstly, as the application of philosophical techniques in order to help the client; secondly, as a manifestation of a long philosophical history. Jackson and Cox offer both an argument for and an experience of philosophy for coaching practitioners.