Education Scholar: Module 1 - Developing a Personal Working Philosophy to Guide Teaching/Learning in Health Professions Education

Topic 1.3 - Exploring Other Education Philosophies

1.3.3e: Exploring Established Philosophies of Education: Existentialism

Existentialism is a relatively modern philosophy that emphasizes the primacy of individual existence, in which each person has the freedom to make of thermselves whatever they will, and the responsibility of using that freedom appropriately. Existentialism is characterized by the following basic tenets:

There is no universal reality, only what individual perceives it to be
We are all prisoners of our own minds, never able to fully communicate with others
No one can know us as we know ourselves
Education is aimed at development of the whole person.
Subject matter is less important than developing a positive self-concept, self-knowledge, self responsibility
Students have great latitude in choosing subject matter

The major proponents of existentialism include Jean-Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche, Soren Kierkegaard, Martin Buber, Rollo May, Carl Rogers, A. S. Neill.

For more information on the philosophy of existentialism, we recommend the following Web pages.

Shaw LJ. Five Educational Philosophies: Existentialism. Teacher Education 954: Humanistic and Social Aspects of Teaching: Existentialism
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/LShaw/f95syll/philos/phexist.html

Exercise 1.3F Comparing Your Personal Philosophy with Existentialism

Based on this brief introduction and exploration of relevant resources, compare and contrast your philosophy of education with that of existentialism. What are the similarities? The differences? Enter your thoughts in the space below and click Submit.

Return to the Philosophies of Education menu and select another philosophy or use the forward button below to move through the philosophies in order.