Class 7: Tue 3/21/23��Philosophical Foundations: Modern��Module: 6�Author: Rousseau
Philosophy 202: Major Issues & Ideas in Education
Prof. Silva Sibilin
York College, CUNY
Class 7: Tue 3/21/23
đź““Activities for today!
Entrance Ticket: The State of Nature |
Connect: Rousseau to past authors |
Take In: Rousseau’s Overall Philosophy |
Try it Out: The Ideal Education |
Analyze: Key Arguments & Annotations |
Send Off: Exit Ticket & Homework Reminders |
Module: 6
Author: Rousseau
Announcements�March Check-in
Entrance Ticket�The State of Nature
ENTRANCE
TICKET
What would life be like if humans were in a complete “state of nature,” meaning no government, no laws, and no contracts of any kind?
Would it be better/worse/a combination? Explain.
Entrance Ticket�The State of Nature
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state of nature would be good or even better than society | state of nature would be bad and worse than society |
Take In: �Author’s Overall Philosophy
A bit of historical background
Experience with children?
Take In: �Author’s Overall Philosophy
A bit of historical background
Impact of work
Take In: �Author’s Overall Philosophy
Any guess on why the book Emile was banned?
Take In: �Author’s Overall Philosophy
Any guess of what Rousseau’s answer would be for the “state of nature” thought experiment?
Absolutely terrible in between wonderful
Take In: �Author’s Overall Philosophy
3 famous political philosophers who tried out the “thought experiment”
Absolutely terrible in between wonderful
Thomas Hobbes John Locke Rousseau
Take In: �Author’s Overall Philosophy
3 famous political philosophers who tried out the “thought experiment”
Absolutely terrible in between wonderful
Thomas Hobbes John Locke Rousseau
Absolute monarchy justified must be limited monarchy only democracy
Take In: �Author’s Overall Philosophy
The challenge that Rousseau sets out for himself in Emile:
To raise a child as close to the state of nature as possible and preserving natural goodness… but to still be in society and prepare him to live in society...
Rousseau’s analogy:
education is like the growth of a plant�… but a plant that has to live in society
Overall Goal for Rousseau?
HAPPINESS, i.e. not being miserable like most people
INDEPENDENCE (emotionally, economically, etc.)
PRESERVE NATURAL GOODNESS, i.e. not getting corrupted by society like most people
The Happiness Formula:
? = ?
Overall Goal for Rousseau?
HAPPINESS, i.e. not being miserable like most people
INDEPENDENCE (emotionally, economically, etc.)
PRESERVE NATURAL GOODNESS, i.e. not getting corrupted by society like most people
The Happiness Formula:
Capabilities = Desires
Think about: �An“ideal education”
What would you decide in an “ideal education”?
(groups activity done on handouts/google document)
0) what kind of life would you want the child to have, ideally?
1) Would you raise the child in… City/Suburbs/Countryside/other?
2) Would you actively teach the child to walk?
3) Would you raise the child with some kind of religion?
4) Would you send the child to school/do home schooling/other?
5) How much would you censor information (e.g. internet, tv shows) and until what age?
6) What if (hopefully not!) the child misbehaves? what would be your general reaction to “misbehavior”? (example: child breaks a window in the house)
1) your choice: location?
suburbs IIII
countryside 0
city 0
1) City or Country for Rousseau?
→ COUNTRY (small village) -- more control
2) your choice: teach to walk?
YES, part of time – II
undecided, no consensus - I
NO – I
2) Teach to walk for rousseau?
“Our didantic and pedantic craze is always to teach children what they would learn much better by themselves and to forget what we alone could teach them. Is there anything more foolish than the effort made to teach them to walk…?”
“Emile will not have…”
3) your choice: religion or not?
YES - III
NO - I
3) Religion or NO religion for Rousseau?
DON’T TEACH MORALITY - NOT DIRECTLY
DO WANT TEACH NATURAL CONSEQUENCES OF ACTIONS
4) your choice: what kind of schooling if any?
school – IIII
4) School outside the home or Home Schooling or NO schooling for Rousseau?
5)your choice: censorship of information?
none at all - I
some, e.g. cursing, social media - likes, influence to do things, violence, nudity - III
a lot - I
minimum age for social media: ??
5) censorship for rousseau?
A “Negative” Education at home and in nature, with “governor” around...
NO grades
NO structured curriculum
NO required subjects
NO Fables (moral lessons)
and… NO Books! (until the age of 12)
First Book
6) what if misbehaves?
punishment - confiscation, grounded & reward; teaching through consequences determined by parent - II
learn on their own, talking about it, yell if necessary, no spanking - I
yelling, get upset - I
Rousseau - do NOTHING, let the child experience the natural consequences
Debate: �Overall philosophy
Traditional education is better Non-crunchy? Silky? | Natural or NEGATIVE education is better “Crunchy”? |
Are you overall more in favor of natural education and Rousseau’s philosophy or against?
Send Off�Homework�
HOMEWORK |
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EXIT TICKET
What is one question you have about Rousseau based on today’s
Class and/or the reading?