This special issue of the ResponsAbility Podcast was recorded at the Bildung Conference 2026 at the University of South-Eastern Norway. In this dialogue, we welcome three distinguished Nordic scholars in the field of Bildung and educational philosophy: Lars Løvlie, professor emeritus at the University of Oslo and one of the leading voices in Nordic Bildung theory; Svein Østtveit Østerud, professor emeritus in educational science and media pedagogy at the University of Oslo; and Steen Nepper Larsen, associate professor at Aarhus University, widely known for his critical and philosophical contributions to Bildung and contemporary education. Together, the conversation explores the relevance of Bildung in higher education and society, addressing questions of democracy, technology, existential formation, and the future of education in times of uncertainty and crisis. The episode also reflects the spirit of dialogue and philosophical inquiry that shaped the conference itself, which was mainly organized by our co-host Guro Hansen Helskog. 00:02:42 — Why the conference theme “The Humanizing Power of Exploratory Dialogue” was chosen 00:03:06 — Reflections on dialogue, Bildung, and humanization based on the speakers’ presentations 00:07:04 — Dialogue, virtual reality, and the human dimensions behind terror and school shootings 00:08:40 — Bildung in times of crisis, fragmentation, and unstable shared meaning 00:09:01 — The role of Bildung in a pluralistic and culturally divided world 00:11:18 — Universal values, criticism, and the tension between universality and cultural embeddedness 00:13:16 — Responses to the challenges of relativism, democracy, and media literacy 00:16:26 — “Standing in the open” as a new Bildung ideal 00:16:38 — Bildung as existential risk, openness, and self-transformation 00:18:53 — What Bildung can do in the face of militarization, technology, and societal crisis 00:21:07 — The crisis of education, student disengagement, and digital culture 00:23:15 — Reflections and resonances from the Bildung Conference as a whole Between Theory and Practice – Questions for Reflection: How might the insights from this dialogue inspire your own practice? The following questions are intended to inspire further inquiry, whether explored individually or in conversation with colleagues, students, or peers. The guests suggest that Bildung involves learning to “stand in the open” — remaining receptive to uncertainty, difference, and transformation. In your own professional practice, where might you be tempted to seek quick answers or certainty, and how could creating more space for exploratory dialogue lead to deeper understanding or more responsible action?Throughout the dialogue, Bildung is presented as a response to fragmentation, polarization, and the accelerating pace of contemporary life. What concrete practices could you cultivate in your workplace, classroom, or community to strengthen reflective dialogue, critical thinking, and meaningful human connection in the face of these challenges? Literature: Hattie, J. & Larsen, S. N. (2020): The Purposes of Education: A Conversation between John Hattie and Steen Nepper Larsen. New York, NY: Routledge. Larsen, S. N. (2026). Tankekraft: Om væren, tænkning, dannelse – og den uhyre anstrengelse det er at blive gjort dum. Samfundslitteratur.Larsen, S. N. (2022): Evalueringsfeber og evidensjagt. Copenhagen: Samfundslitteratur Larsen, S. N. (2019): Blindness in Seeing: A Philosophical Critique of the Visible Learning Paradigm in Education. Educational Science 9(1) 47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci9010047 Larsen, S.N (2016). At ville noget med nogen – filosofiske og samtidskritiske fragmenter om dannelse og pædagogik. Turbine akademisk. Løvlie, L. (2022) Hvis teknokratene ikke fantes. I: Schaanning, E., & Aagre, W. (2022). Skolens mening : femti år etter Nils Christies Hvis skolen ikke fantes. Universitetsforlaget. Løvlie, L. (2022). Akademisk dygd og politikkens fravær. Nordisk tidsskrift for pedagogikk og kritikk, 8. https://doi.org/10.23865/ntpk.v8.3755 Løvlie, L., & Løvlie, L. (2021). Politisering og pedagogisk motstand : veien til en barneorientert praksis (1. utgave.). Fagbokforlaget. Løvlie, L. (2017). The Test of Practice–An Essay. Education Sciences, 7(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci7010031 Løvlie, L. (2015). John Dewey, phenomenology, and the reconstruction of democracy. Nordisk tidsskrift for pedagogikk og kritikk, 1. https://doi.org/10.17585/ntpk.v1.104 Østerud, S. (2013): 22. Juli. Forstå - forklare - forebygge. Abstrakt.Østerud, S. (2008): Å være på nett: kommunikasjon, identitets- og kompetanseutvikling med digitale medier. Cappelen akademisk.