The disorienting dilemma versus the event

We live in appalling times, in which it is almost impossible to remain hopeful; for radical adult educators, it is difficult to know what we should do in response. In this article, I draw on two theorists for possible inspiration. Jack Mezirow’s perspective transformation theory is one of the most widely used of all adult learning theories, but also continues to be critiqued as a theory of social change. Alain Badiou’s theory of the event has not as yet been considered within adult education. I consider whether and how these might help us think through our role in current times.