dialogue about their pre-understandings and orientations. In this sense, these questions are attempts to challenge students to grapple with educational issues in existential terms, in which experience and existence are prior to theory and to essence, and in which how one 'is' (ontology) is primary to what one knows (epistemology). Mollenhauer supports his readers in reflecting on and grappling with these questions through reference to cultural and historical examples and illustrations. These range from medieval woodcuts through philosophical texts to contemporary works of fiction, including Augustine's Confessions, Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations, and Thomas Bernhard's novels and stories. Specifically in exploring questions of representation and Bildsamkeit, Mollenhauer focuses on the significant notion of the pedagogical relation. References German educational theorists 1928 births 1998 deaths Academic staff of Goethe University Frankfurt Academic staff of the University of Kiel