e pedagogy. Timeless application of classical reflections

“Nothing more timeless than the classic“. With this biosophical saying as a guide, the writing of the present work “e pedagogy” was begun and completed. Its purpose was an abstract search into the concept of education, based on the Socratic key concepts: i) self-control, ii) authenticity, iii) self-awareness; and iv) Evolution. How can these keys ‘unlock’ the deeper interpretation of pedagogy from antiquity to the present day, regardless of time, place and culture? How could they encapsulate the phenomena that emerge by contributing to making pedagogy less descriptive and more penetrating? Just as the natural sciences have tried to explain most possible phenomena in the fewest, but most penetrating, possible concepts (and have succeeded in doing so after centuries of barren – but inevitable – descriptive efforts), so pedagogy can move – and possibly someday end up – using concepts like these. At the same time, the use of allegory as an equally timeless tool is emphasized. In particular, the classical allegories of the “cave”, the “armadillo” and the “invisible man” are analysed in relation to the above four key abstract concepts.

Numerous examples and problems of contemporary educational everyday life accompany and make the theoretical analysis of this text more vivid. It is hoped that this will bring out the contemporary – and always topical – character of the above-mentioned classical concepts and tools, without overburdening the reader with extensive descriptive details and chronologies. Put more simply: the intended added value of the present is to propose considerations, as far as possible original, not offered on the internet or in the hitherto related writings.