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Ενασκόπηση στην ιστορία της παιδικής ηλικίας: (Bachelor thesis)

Δελαπόρτα, Μαρία/ Delaporta, Maria

The aim of the study is the presentation of the educational perceptions included in the work of the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau “Emile or On Education”, which was published in 1762. “Emile” is a semi-fictitious work detailing the growth of a young boy of that name. Rousseau, as the tutor of this boy, describes the methods and the lines of his pupil’s education, from birth to the age of 25, when Emile is getting married and the work of the educator is accomplished. The aim of education, according to Rousseau, is the raising of a freethinking and happy man, who knows the way of gaining useful knowledge rather than being a man of learning. Furthermore his pupil, in spite of being a rich man, he is becoming finally a good workman, a generous and compassionate man and a good husband. Rousseau does not forget to mention on the education of woman and introduces the character of Sophie, Emile’s wife-to-be. His perceptions, however, concerning woman’s education are not characterized by progressiveness which rules the rest of his work. The work that is studied in the current project is written in a time that social reclassifications, political and economic changes came about and became a victim of the existing conflicts. The writer was banished because of his beliefs and the book was banned and burned. Rousseau was inspired by ancient philosophers as well as his contemporaries. Furthermore, he drew on the English philosopher John Lock who had preceded him in writing a book in point of children’s education. Afterwards, the aspects he expressed in his writing had a great impact on the educational perception of the posterior educators and represented the basis for a new confrontation of childhood. Generally, the concept of childhood accepted many changes through the centuries. In the 18th century, when Rousseau lived, childhood started to take the current meaning and the current characteristics. It was necessary, however, at least two centuries to pass and many people to contribute, in order to obtain the child the picture that holds in our days.