Copyright © 2005 José
Cossa
The philosophy of education proposed by Rousseau is evidence of
mysteries in human life that have been subject of concern and investigation by
a variety of people, i.e., educators, philosophers, etc., to this day. The
views are characterized by a philosophical dichotomy of the role of nature and
nurture in the education of humans, and a dichotomy of worldviews presented by
the idealistic and the realistic perspectives. In attempting to resolve these
dichotomies (in my observation), Rousseau proposed that education be divided
into three parts and attributed prominence to nature as the educator of
mankind.
From a Christian standpoint, which advocates for the perfection of God
and all that God has created, I agree with Rousseau’s statement that all things
originating from God are good, but disagree that all things degenerate as they
get to man’s hands. Rousseau contradicts his latter claim by introducing the
possibility of mentoring or advising Emile. If all things degenerate in the hands
of mankind, then no human is able to mentor another, even if such mentoring is
by means of surrendering the child to his own natural instincts – how can
anyone, in whose hands all things degenerate, be able to subdue his own evil
propensity to dominate another or impose one’s own will on another? This
contradiction reflects a conflict between what really is and what
Rousseau wishes it should be, i.e., the real and the ideal; and, the
contradiction is manifest in his swinging between the two worldviews. His own
maxim, “the true man wants only what he can get, and does only what pleases
him” (p. 167) reflect the ultimate ideal and a conflict with his initial
assumption that mankind is naturally corrupt (p. 163).
On a positive tone, Rousseau has advanced a valuable
contribution to education by calling to our attention the distinction and yet
mutual role of nature and nurture in one’s educational process from childhood
to adulthood. Education to manhood (or womanhood) is foundational to education
for citizenship for one understands better his social role if he understands
what really matters to him/her as a human being – I would tie this process and
philosophy to Jesus maxim, “love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Mark
12:31).
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