How to understand eternal education in modern education

Eternism is also called classicism, neo-scholasticism and classical humanism. It represents the humanistic educational trend of thought with a long history and tradition in the west, or, eternalism is an effort made by people in the 1930s to revive the ancient humanistic educational tradition in the west.

The difference between eternalism and progressivism and essentialism: progressivism is characterized by "progress", essentialism by "conservatism" and eternalism by "retro".

From the social and cultural point of view, progressivism, reformism and essentialism all recognize change, emphasize the use of knowledge to solve the problems faced by the real world, and pay little attention to the understanding of the values and theories contained in the humanities.

Eternity fundamentally denies that the world is changing. They believe that change is only a superficial phenomenon and the fundamental principle of controlling the world is eternal. This is the main reason why they call themselves eternalism. Of course, the idea of "retro" advocated by eternalism does not mean that American capitalist society will return to the ancient state, but "retro" is only a means to maintain and strengthen reality.

First, the emergence and development of the eternal trend of education

Eternism came into being and developed in the process of opposing progressivism, and lasted until after the Second World War. In 1930s, its dispute with progressivism was actually a manifestation of the dispute between scientism and humanism.

1, the emergence and development of eternalism

Eternism is closely related to humanistic education and has a long history. /kloc-the progressivism that arose at the end of 0/9 not only caused the criticism of essentialism characterized by conservatism, but also caused the anxiety of many humanists.

In the 1920s, a group of young teachers who taught classic works in some Daiwa colleges in the United States formed, among which hutchins, the core figure, was the president of Yale Law School at the age of 29 and the president of the University of Chicago at the age of 30. Philosophy professor Ajdero, as well as Mike Kane, Buchanan, Barr and Doreen. These people were born around 1900 and were educated in conservative private schools and colleges.

After the 1920s, Ejdero and Doreen became teachers of Columbia University's "Excellence" course, which was mainly composed of a few students and teachers, reading and discussing about 50 classic works. During this period, Ejdero and others put forward what was later called the "Hundred Masterpieces Plan". From 65438 to 0929, hutchins served as president of the University of Chicago, and hired Ajdero, Mike Kane, Buchanan and others as teachers of the University of Chicago.

During the period of 1929, hutchins recruited some famous eternalists such as Ajdero, Mike Kane and Buchanan. It is the time when the United States began to fall into the economic crisis and the progressive educational trend was criticized and attacked. Therefore, eternalism follows the trend and becomes an influential ideological trend of educational philosophy. Eternists, represented by hutchins and Ajdero, published a lot of books and speeches to publicize their ideas. At first, people called them "great bookworms", but Ajdero was not satisfied with this title, and suggested that they call themselves "eternalists", hence the name of eternalism.

Eternism arose in the process of opposing progressivism, and its argument with progressive education thought continued until after World War II, attracting many other professors who taught classical works in universities, as well as poets and writers to join the ranks of eternalism.

2. Eternism criticizes progressivism.

Eternism directly criticizes progressivism, and attacking progressivism is "anarchic individualism", "liberation of corruption" and "the most vicious distortion of democracy". At the same time, eternalism held a hostile and attacking attitude towards the Soviet Union at that time. Comparing the Soviet Union with German Nazis and Italian fascists, we think that Dewey's philosophy will destroy American democratic tradition, and Dewey's democratic essence is totalitarianism in the cloak of democracy, which is more harmful than Hitler's.

3. The main representative of the trend of eternal education.

Hutchins: American educator (1889- 1977). His representative works include Educational Conflict in a Democratic Society, American Higher Education and Liberal Education.

Edlow: American educator. His representative works include: How to Read: The Art of Getting Free Education, Defending Educational Philosophy, etc. 1985 published the article "Pattaya Proposal" for the educational reform in the United States (Pattaya is Greek, which refers to the educational system of Greek culture in the classical period and culture in the Hellenistic period). This article still reflects the consistent view of eternity.

Maritain: French idealist philosopher and educator, the main representative of Neo-Thomas Doctrine and the main representative of religious eternalism. Main works: Education at Crossroads, Human Education, Real Humanism.

Second, the ideological basis of the trend of eternal education

(A) the philosophical basis

According to the attitude towards religion, eternalism can be divided into secularism and religion. The philosophical basis of these two schools is idealism philosophy since ancient Greece.

The thoughts of Plato, Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas have the greatest influence on eternalism.

1, the basic philosophical view of eternalism

Ontology: Reality is the manifestation of eternal forms hidden in matter. On the premise of affirming this principle, the eternalists have two views on "reality": one is the teleological tendency of "reality", which holds that all existence has the characteristics of pursuing purpose. The other is the supernatural tendency of "reality", which holds that there is an absolute spiritual realm and ultimately controls all the realms under it. Epistemology: Cognition goes through complete ignorance to the level of experience and opinion, and then to the level of reason and spirit.

Axiology: Morality is subordinate to "wisdom".

The world is spiritual and governed by the principles of truth, goodness and beauty.

2. The difference between religious eternity and secular eternity.

Religious eternalists maintain the supreme authority of the Roman Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church's interpretation of the doctrine of eternalism. Of course, in many principles, the two are consistent.

(2) World outlook and scientific outlook with retro characteristics.

The basic feature of eternalism is "retro".

1, the principle of eternity controls change.

Eternists believe that change is not aimless like progressivism, but has a direction, and all changes and movements are controlled by eternal principles. In order to make people happy, become a real person and eliminate social chaos, we must understand these eternal principles.

The secularism of religious school emphasizes that in order to understand the principle of controlling the change of the universe, it is necessary to study theology, especially the medieval scholasticism.

Secular eternalism emphasizes that to understand the principle of controlling the change of the universe, we must turn to ancient Greek philosophy. In the eyes of eternalists, ancient Greece was the golden age of mankind. At that time, the relationship between man and nature, man and society, and man and man was perfect and harmonious. People know and respect the value of people, know how to educate their children, and know that education is an important means to make people live a real human life. Because human nature cannot be changed, the eternal law that controls the universe is independent of time and space, so the education suitable for ancient Greeks is also suitable for Americans in the 20th century.

2. The eternal principle is higher than science.

Both progressivism and essentialism highly value science. One of the main aspects of eternalism's criticism of progressivism is "scientism". Eternism holds that scientism was the chief culprit of many problems in American society and education at that time.

(1) Basic ideas:

Science can certainly give people strength, but it can't tell us the goal of development and change. Science can not only serve good goals, but also help others. Science itself can't understand the value of people, knowledge and morality, and can't find the truth of life, so the progress of science and technology doesn't mean the development of civilization.

Eternism holds that the fundamental difference between human beings and animals is that human beings have soul and rationality, and only human beings can understand the eternal law of controlling the universe. Human life is different from that of animals. The value of human life and the standard of a better life are not the material enjoyment brought by the development of science and technology, but the understanding of eternal principles by human soul and reason. This kind of understanding is not utilitarian, but understanding for the sake of understanding.

The realization of human values and the establishment of a unified and harmonious society must resort to the pursuit of eternal principles. Therefore, education must transform, abandon scientism and turn to the pursuit of the first principle, and education must return to ancient times.

(2) Evaluation

Eternism is not scientism education, but education similar to the golden age of ancient Greece.

Eternism despises the "retro" characteristics of modern experimental science, and opposes not only the mixed ideas embodied in science and technology, but also the uncertain and unreliable characteristics it brings. What they mainly oppose is the contemporary cultural model based on experimental technology. The cultural pattern formed by science and technology has changed the traditional view of human nature, knowledge and values, making people slaves in a technological society and leading to the widespread materialism in society. Human beings invented science and technology, but if we don't use these eternal principles of truth, goodness and beauty to guide science and technology, modern society may be destroyed by science and technology.

The eternal principle can only be obtained through the education of free art.

Eternism holds that experimental science can only help us solve the facts, but not determine the purpose. The task of determining purpose needs to be completed by philosophy or religion. Therefore, philosophy, religion and humanities that embody eternal principles should be placed above science.

In the eyes of eternalists, the most important questions for human beings are what is a good life, what is a good society, what is human nature and destiny, and so on. Understanding and solving these problems requires free education.

The function of free education is to develop pure reason, enable students to acquire metaphysical knowledge, and enable students to "think like the ancients", "go back to the ancients" and "get in touch with the thoughts of the great ancients".

Third, the basic proposition of the trend of thought of eternalism education

The nature and purpose of education

1, the essence of education is eternal.

Eternism's view on the essence of education has two premises. One is that the world is controlled by the principles of truth, goodness and beauty, which are independent of time and space and eternal. The second premise is that human nature remains unchanged.

On the unchangeable view of human nature: Eternism does not deny the plasticity of children. Emphasizing that human nature remains unchanged has two meanings: first, children's plasticity is limited; Second, children everywhere at any time have a universal nature like * * *.

People's rational, moral and spiritual abilities are the same and unchangeable nature that people in any time and anywhere have. It is precisely because people have these similarities that children's plasticity is limited.

Because human nature is constant, the demand for education is constant, and so is the demand for education. Whether people live in ancient Greece or the 20th century, whether they live in Africa or America, the essence of education is eternal.

2. The purpose of education is to develop human nature and shape people into adults.

Of course, different eternalists have different specific expressions about the purpose of education. Such as "cultivating people's wisdom", "developing human nature", "improving people", "making people become people" and "cultivating all kinds of rational virtues".

Eternism's view of educational purpose is based on their world view and human nature view. If human nature is developed, he can understand the eternal truth and become a noble person; If human nature is developed, he can control the environment and become more human; If human nature is developed, he can better understand the world, understand his own responsibility and position, know what the greatest goodness is, and have a high sense of judgment and morality.

3. Criticism of several educational purposes

In the book Conflict in Education, hutchins criticized several main educational purposes of the United States at that time. Including: adapting to the environment; Meet immediate needs; Transform society.

Theory of Adapting to the Environment (IV): It advocates that the younger generation should adapt to the natural, social, political, economic and cultural environment, regardless of the quality of this environment. Hutchins pointed out that Dewey is the basis of this educational purpose. This teleology of education is wrong: firstly, it leads to various boring courses in content in practice. Second, it doesn't work in practice and can't adapt to the changing society in the United States. Third, the mission of mankind is to transform the environment, not to adapt to it. Fourth, refuse to consider any value standard, no matter what the environment is, we must adapt. In this way, the education system based on adapting to the environment will eventually become an education system that does not mention value issues.

Theory of Meeting Direct Needs: hutchins pointed out that the development of science and technology and the development of American society make it difficult for people to master all the information. Therefore, there are some difficulties in the theory of meeting direct needs: first, the current direct needs and information obtained will soon become outdated; Second, I know too many facts; Third, if people want to know all the facts, the education plan will be chaotic.

Therefore, the theory of meeting direct needs cannot develop the wisdom and strength that students need to adapt to the new environment and solve new problems.

Theory of social transformation: hutchins pointed out that it is impossible to achieve the social goals of social reformists through education. The education system cannot realize social transformation, and the system that can cause social transformation is not the education system.

In addition to the same consequences as the theory of adapting to the environment and meeting direct needs, the theory of social transformation is still dangerous. Because it is against democracy to indoctrinate students with the idea of social transformation. Hutchins agrees that the purpose of education is to improve society, but he thinks that people must know what "improvement" is and the limitations and possibilities of education.

In short, hutchins believes that education is not to adapt the younger generation to the environment, but to encourage them to improve the environment; Education should consider not only the direct needs of students, but also the needs of truth, goodness and beauty. Education has the function of transforming society, but transforming society cannot be regarded as the purpose of education, and the realization of the purpose of social transformation is the inevitable result of real education.

Education and society

1, western society is in danger of collapse.

Eternism believes that from the end of 19, the United States began to be obsessed with scientific and technological civilization, which was manifested in abandoning the traditional western liberal education in education, and school education became a patchwork of various vocational education, which, of course, caused great material civilization in the United States, but also caused the degradation of spiritual culture, which would eventually lead to the destruction of society.

Eternists believe that all kinds of problems in American society at that time, such as the worship of science and technology and general materialism, were ultimately intellectual, moral and spiritual problems. The most effective way to save the crisis is to restore the great tradition of the west, at least to actually restore the ancient stable society oriented by philosophy rather than science.

2. Social civilization needs free education.

First of all, liberal education is western and traditional.

Liberal education originated in ancient Greece, continued by the ancient Romans, and prevailed in medieval church schools. By the end of 19, liberal arts education has been affecting middle school education in Europe and America. The purpose of free education is to exchange ideas constantly and make students become participants in great dialogue. Western civilization is a civilization of exchanging opinions and a civilization of free exploration embodied in free education.

As a western and traditional general education, it has not gone out of date because of the change of historical conditions, because understanding tradition is the condition for people to be liberated. (The appearance of hutchins)

Second, a democratic society needs free education.

Liberal education originated in ancient Greece, and was mainly designed for the leisure people in society and the ruler of society, the "king of philosophy", with the main purpose of serving the aristocratic ruling class. The eternal does not deny this.

Liberal education can also serve the modern democratic society. The development of science and technology is an important feature of modern society, but it has not changed the basic characteristics of human nature and life, so free education is not out of date. Moreover, if free education is the education that the ruling class should receive, then in a democratic society, everyone is the ruler and everyone should receive free education.

Third, industrial society needs free education.

With the rapid development of industrial society and the emergence of various occupations, education cannot be career-oriented. Free education is guided by theoretical thinking, and with the help of theory, free education can produce knowledge suitable for various environments.

3. Free education should cultivate social leaders.

On the one hand, in order to realize the interests of a democratic society, everyone should receive free education, and this kind of education is compulsory and no one can escape.

On the other hand, for the benefit of a democratic society, society needs to be led by outstanding people with free education. Only in this way can the society be stable and the great tradition of the West be continued and developed.

This theory is mainly based on Aristotle's philosophy. Aristotle believes that rational soul can be divided into practical reason and theoretical reason, with practical reason being low-level and theoretical reason being the highest part of human soul. Although people also have natural rationality, the proportion of the two rationality is different. Therefore, although free education is open to everyone, people can receive free education to different degrees. Only a few geniuses can receive free education completely, and these geniuses should act as social leaders. Therefore, general education has the function of selecting and cultivating social leaders.

(3) Courses

1, educational content

On liberal education and "logos"

Eternism advocates free education. So, what is free education? In the book "Conflict in Education", hutchins specifically discussed "free education". He pointed out: "In North America, we are proud that we are successful successors of the great western tradition, and our task is not to make North America an arsenal, granary and power station of the world. Our task is to preserve and develop the Logos civilization of all mankind. " The key to understanding liberal education is to understand the meaning of logos.

Logos: a philosophical term. In western philosophy, many philosophers have the same view on its connotation: logos is spiritual, or it refers to the universal law of the universe, cosmic rationality, mysterious spiritual entity, or it refers to the absolute concept. Therefore, Logos civilization mainly refers to the spiritual civilization of the western world. The essence of western Logos civilization is the free exploration or great dialogue between the mind and the eternal principle of truth, goodness and beauty that dominates the world.

Free education: in essence, it is wisdom and morality, not the transmission of ready-made knowledge, not to mention vocational training.

Educational content: an eternal theme with rational cultivation value. It mainly includes three categories: the content, methods and tools of rational training.

The content of rational training: the eternal subjects are philosophy, literature and history.

Methods of rational training: Eternal subjects include mathematics, science and art.

Intellectual training tools: reading, writing, calculation and knowledge and skills in English, Latin and Greek.

2. Excellent courses and teaching materials of higher education.

Courses and teaching materials are both traditional and classic masterpieces. Here, masterpieces are used as courses and teaching materials, mainly for higher education.

Masterpieces include: about 100 volumes. Three quarters of them were written before 1800, two thirds before 1700, and only two books are from the 20th century. In the past 100 years, Europeans have only written two books, one is Marx's Das Kapital, the other is Freud's Study on Hysteria, and the rest are mostly works on classical philosophy, history, literature and other literary subjects, as well as some works on natural sciences, most of which are works in ancient Greece and Rome.

Superiority of classic courses and textbooks;

First, it is the best way to achieve educational goals. Classic works contain eternal principles and what people should think about. By reading famous books, students can master eternal principles.

Secondly, the positioning of famous books is conceptual and theoretical, not technical and applied. Therefore, learning famous works can promote students' intellectual development.

Third, reading itself is a good intellectual training. Reading famous books can not only be influenced by great thoughts and communicate with great people, but also develop people's independent thinking ability and form the habit of independent thinking.

Fourth, you can't understand the contemporary world without reading famous books. In the view of eternity, great achievements in modern times have been seen in these masterpieces, which hutchins called "the primitive beginning" and Livingstone called "the soil for the growth of various disciplines". Only by reading famous books can we better understand the development of various disciplines and understand all kinds of morbid and chaotic phenomena in current society.

(4) Teaching

The purpose of education is to master eternal principles by cultivating students' wisdom, morality and spirit. Therefore, the teaching process is neither a process in which teachers instill ready-made and systematic knowledge into students, nor a process in which students accept this knowledge. The teaching process is the process of rational training, and the purpose of this training is to give full play to people's potential rationality.

1, teachers and students

Progressivism is the center of children and essentialism is the center of teachers. Eternism holds that neither teachers nor students are the center. No matter teachers, students or teaching methods, they must obey one purpose, that is, to fully develop people's potential rationality.

Teachers: In the process of education, teachers are not in the central position, and their role is secondary. Teachers are neither the source of knowledge for students, nor the inheritors of cultural heritage or historical traditions. The teacher's role is to help children develop their learning potential.

Student: Learning is a learner's active activity. Education cannot be imposed on students from the outside, but can only guide children to develop their potential.

Emphasizing learners' active activities does not mean that they don't need help. Eternists think that the teacher's help is necessary. In the book "Defending the Philosophy of Education", Edlow pointed out that education is "the art of cooperation". Through "nature", people will also learn and form good habits. The importance of education and teaching lies in promoting this natural process. Therefore, the role of teachers is mainly manifested in the cooperation with people's natural development process. The role of this cooperation is only to help and promote human development, whether it is a teacher center or a student center.

2. Teaching methods

(1) Socrates question and answer method

The purpose of teaching is to promote the development of human inner rationality, and the best way to achieve this goal is Socrates' method.

The method of praising Socrates has a profound cultural background. Eternism holds that western civilization is a civilization that explores eternal truth through dialogue, communication and debate, and Socrates' method is the originator of this civilization. Therefore, in addition to reading famous books, eternalists also emphasize Socrates' teaching methods.

Socrates' method can achieve the purpose of developing human nature and rational training. Socrates' teaching method fundamentally avoids the indoctrination of knowledge and moral concepts, completely conforms to the law of human development, and is a teaching method for human beings. At the same time, this method can stimulate learners' thinking and best reflect the essential characteristics of teaching as a "cooperative art".

Socratic education deals with conceptual and theoretical problems, regardless of its practicality and utility.

2. Reading

The art of freedom is the art of communication, and reading is the best way to communicate with outstanding intellectuals and famous authors.

Eternism emphasizes reading mainly because: first, reading itself has the function of exchanging ideas. Second, reading has the value of rational training.

Because, if you want to learn, you must accept grammar training, which is conducive to the improvement of organizational thinking ability. At the same time, in the process of reading, it is a rational training to discuss with the author and think and reason about the problems found.

Four. comment

(A) on the basis of philosophy

As the philosophical basis of eternalism, the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle and Aquinas are all idealistic philosophies.

Plato's theory of ideas is a typical philosophical system of objective idealism. He denies the primacy of matter, and regards concrete things that exist objectively as "copies" and "shadows" of ideas, which is absolutely opposite to the viewpoint of dialectical materialism.

Aristotle's "four causes theory" separates matter from form, and thinks that form can exist independently without matter, so form becomes the same thing as Plato's idea and falls into idealism. At the same time, he believes that God is the first driving force and the ultimate goal of the world. God is absolutely realistic and eternal.

Aquinas infers the existence of God from Aristotle's viewpoint of "the first driving force", and thinks that God is the creator of the world, and the world created by God is not eternal, only the creator-God is eternal. Aquinas' philosophy directly served the feudal hierarchy.

(B) on the characteristics of retro

Eternism is characterized by "retro". What is the real meaning of retro? Does it mean to let modern society go back to ancient times? Understanding these problems is an important issue to correctly evaluate eternalism.

The eternal idea of "retro" is not to transform today's society with the model of ancient society. Eternism has strong characteristics of the times, and its true meaning of "retro" is to maintain and consolidate the existing capitalist society. Eternity is not the guardian of ancient and medieval hierarchical society, but the faithful defender of modern capitalist democratic society.

Eternists believe that the weakening of western cultural foundation has led to chaos and spread to all parts of the world. To solve the crisis, save western civilization and make the capitalist system eternal, we must restore the spirit of ancient Greece and Christianity. Therefore, eternalism is not against the capitalist system at that time.

Eternism tries to restore the educational methods of the "golden age" in the past, not the social system. The essence of this educational method is to let the younger generation understand the eternal principle of controlling the world through education, so as not to lose their way in the changing and chaotic times and to inherit and maintain the spiritual foundation of western civilization.

(C) On Eternism and Essentialism

Essentialism also emphasizes that education should inherit the great traditions of the west and retain the same elements in western culture. Does it have the same idea as eternity?

1. The cultural model of eternal criticism as the basis of policy and practice.

Eternism, like essentialism, raised objections to the social system and education at that time. However, eternalism is not only aimed at the social and educational policies and practices at that time, but also at the basic cultural model. The root of cultural corruption is positivism philosophy.

Essentialism emphasizes training students' thinking through cultural elements and exploring people's intellectual resources. Eternism emphasizes making students understand the eternal principle of controlling the change of the universe and opposes materialism and impersonality caused by science and technology.

1, Eternism denies that cultural changes and social evolution are inevitable.

Eternism does not oppose change, but only thinks that the pattern or form of * * * is constant and eternal between changing things and people. The changing viewpoint only applies to experimental science, but not to human life. What human life needs is logic, morality and rational knowledge as eternal truth.

3. Eternity denies the role of experience.

Eternism fundamentally denies the role of experience. Both personal experience and racial experience are unreliable, and only human reason is reliable.

Essentialism emphasizes racial experience.

4. Eternism is based on tradition, while essentialism is based on tradition.