Who are we?

Ran Lahav has been internationally active in the philosophical practice movement since 1992, and has given numerous retreats, workshops and presentations around the world. He received his PhD in philosophy and Master’s in Psychology from the University of Michigan, USA in 1989, and then taught at several universities. He published books and articles in philosophy, philosophical practice, contemplation, and spirituality. In 2004 he started developing contemplative philosophy, which eventually turned into Deep Philosophy.

Kirill Rezvushkin is an associate professor at the Department of Philosophy of South Ural State University in Chelyabinsk, in central Russia. In 2009 he received his specialist diploma (equivalent to the Master’s degree) in Russian Philology, and in 2016 his specialist diploma in history at Chelyabinsk State University. His dissertation on philosophy, which he defended in 2015, was about authenticity. He is currently a candidate of sciences (Russian equivalent of PhD).

Massimiliano Bavieri received his Master’s degree in piano from the Music Institute “Luigi Boccherini” in Lucca, and a second Master’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Pisa. He joined the movement of philosophical practice in 2007, and in 2017 started participating in philosophical contemplative activities. In 2019 he became a board member of the Deep Philosophy Group. He is a teacher of Italian as a foreign language for adults, and also translated into Italian several German philosophical essays.

Sergey Borisov is a doctor of philosophy and professor at South Ural State University (Chelyabinsk, Russia). Since 2014 he has been active in the international movement of philosophical practice. He conducts a philosophical cafe in Chelyabinsk, and works in the Philosophy for Children program at a Montessori center. He is the head of the scientific project “Theory and practice of philosophical consulting: comparative approach,” which received financial support from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research.

Juan José Grande is an Argentinean teacher of philosophy, a graduate of the National University of Litoral (UNL), and a philosophical counselor. He co-founded FilosofARes, an association promoting the creation, research and dissemination of philosophical practices. Attracted by social and political issues, he actively participates in the Teachers’ Syndicate of Santa Fe (Argentina), and considers Deep Philosophy as a path of personal transformation and a form of political resistance.  He is currently finishing his second degree in philosophy (with a specialization in research).

Katya Polukhina received her Bachelor degree in teaching foreign languages (English and Chinese) in 2021 at South Ural State Humanitarian Pedagogical University (Chelyabinsk, Russia). She is now studying for her Master’s degree in the same field at Chelyabinsk State University. She participated in the philosophical café in Chelyabinsk since 2017, and in various activities of the DP Group since 2019. She considers Deep Philosophy as the source of creative power that can transform our inner perspective and help to connect to the depth.

Linda La Penna received her Master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Perugia, Italy, where she did research in the field of psychohistory and published several articles on the subject. She subsequently became a teacher of Italian Literature and History and taught over twenty years. After her retirement she studied philosophical practice at the Sicof School in Rome. In recent years she has been working as a philosophical practitioner with psychiatric and oncological patients. She started participating in philosophical contemplative activities in 2018.

Jairo Sandoval received his philosophy degree from the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico. He participated in a number of international colloquia, based on his research on topics ranging from political philosophy to ancient philosophy. He has recently facilitated several philosophical cafés in the online format and is working to develop himself as a philosophical counselor. He considers philosophy as a way of self-knowledge and as an art of living. He is beginning his Master’s studies in contemporary philosophy.

Alejandro Rodríguez is a Mexican philosophical practitioner and school teacher. He received his philosophy degree from the Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM) and studied philosophical practice at the CECAPFI, where he works now. He also teaches at high school, where he applies methodologies of philosophy for children, but since 2018 he is mainly active as a philosophical counselor. He considers philosophizing as a way of giving meaning to our existence, by helping us to relate to our deepest concerns.

Karin Fechner is a German textile and fashion designer, currently living near Florence, Italy, where she develops and manages textile collections. She received her Master’s degree in textile and clothing technology in Moenchengladbach, Germany in 1988. In addition to her aesthetic interests, she is committed to exploring meaningfulness in life beyond the apparent surface, balancing intellectual life-issues with harmony and beauty. She also writes essays on life and philosophy. She joined the activities of the Deep Philosophy group in 2019.

Stefania Giordano is an Italian philosophical practitioner since 2007. She received her Master’s Degree in Philosophy with a thesis on philosophical counseling, and then studied philosophical practice at the Sicof School in Rome, where she now works and teaches. She facilitated many philosophical groups and one-to-one sessions, worked as a philosophical practitioner in high schools, and wrote articles on the topic. She is a family mediator and works at a women’s center crisis. She is now working on a second Master’s degree in Educational Science.

Nikolai Khmyrov is an expert in adult learning and assessment in St. Petersburg, Russia. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology (2004) and master’s degree in organizational psychology (2011), both from St. Petersburg State University. In 2020 he joined the philosophical practice movement after completing a course in Philosophical Counseling, and in January of 2022 completed his training as a Deep Philosophy facilitator. He also conducts sessions in Critical Thinking, Practical Philosophy and Management Assessment, and believes in philosophy as a way of life.

Yamini Bhutani is a Mphil research scholar at the University of Panjab, India. She received her Bachelor’s degree (2014) and Master’s degree (2019)  in Philosophy from the University of Delhi, India. In 2019 she worked as an intern under a student counselor at Maitreyi College, the University of Delhi for several months. Since 2019 Yamini is a keen observer of the philosophical practice movement around the globe. She is also training to be a philosophical practitioner. Yamini believes philosophizing is a vital exercise for the mind and being.

Francesca D’Uva is an Italian philosophical counselor since 2019. She studied philosophy at D’Annunzio University in Chieti, Italy, and graduated in philosophy in 2015 with a thesis in philosophy of religion. She studied philosophical practice at the Parresìa School in Bologna. In recent years she has been working in a variety of areas, social, educational, and technical. She joined the Deep Philosophy group in 2019, and is now involved, among other things, in the organization of the group’s activities and retreats in Italy.

Florent Couturier, living in Paris, France, has a Master’s degree in philosophy and publishing. His interest in the wisdom traditions and in philosophy as a spiritual practice led him to want to become a conduit for them through his work as an editor and teacher. His desire to understand and experience a contemplative form of philosophy, in search of realness, brought him to Deep Philosophy. His favorite word is “Sophia” as a token of affection towards this discipline that has given him so much.

Beatrice Magalotti graduated as a dancer from Scuola del Balletto di Roma in Italy. She collaborated with artists and musicians in performances, choreographies and site-specific art. She has a philosophy degree from the Sapienza University of Rome, and is now completing a Master’s degree in Philosophical Practices at the SUCF school. She is a certified trainer of the Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis approaches to movement and is a founding partner of “Logosomatica”, which explores the integration of intelligent movement, breathing, philosophy and meditation.

Christian F. Españo is a graduate student of philosophy at the University of the Philippines – Diliman. His research focuses on the epistemological aspects of practicing philosophy as a dialogical inquiry. He teaches at secondary school and at university, incorporating philosophical practices into his teaching. He hopes to travel, learn about indigenous cultures, and study philosophy at the grassroots level. He is a native of Bicolandia, the southeast portion of Luzon, Philippines.