A Theoretical Study on the Origins of Character Education－Focused on Plato, Montaigne, and Locke

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is a theoretical study on the origins of ‘character education’. Since the late 2010s, the number of cases of ‘character education’ being opened and operated in the liberal arts curriculum of domestic universities has increased. However, confusion occurred because neither the identity nor the role in the area of character education were not clearly established. Eventually, a situation arose in which opinions became divided among those in charge of liberal arts education over maintaining character education in the liberal arts curriculum. This is the reason why it is necessary to theoretically explore the meaning and role of emotional, social, and physical experience education in higher education. In particular, it is necessary to shed light on the meaning and role of character education regarding educational theory, which has laid the foundation of the modern education system.</br>This paper examines the meaning and role of ‘character education’ in the education theory of Plato, Montaigne, and Locke. These three thinkers were selected for analysis because they not only present educational content corresponding to character education in educational theory, but are also representative figures of the educational discourse that emerged at an important turning point in human civilization. Plato was the first to present the seven liberal arts subjects that are considered the prototype of modern liberal arts education. Thus, a review of his criteria is in order since he was the first person to systematize the necessity and system of education. Montaigne is a good example of the European intellectuals’ perspective on education during the Renaissance, and his work <i>The Complete Essays</i> had a great influence on Locke’s and Rousseau’s theory of education. For this reason, it is necessary to examine the meaning and content of character education in the period of the establishment of the modern educational ideology through Montaigne. Locke laid an important foundation for modern educational theory through his work <i>Some Thoughts Concerning Education</i>, famous for the phrase “a healthy mind in a healthy body”. In particular, Locke needs to be analyzed since his emphasis on the need for character education, including physical education, is clearly displayed.</br>As a result of examining the meaning and role of character education in Plato, Montagne, and Locke’s educational theory, three meanings can be derived. First, character education is intended to ‘control desires and practice rational or intellectual decisions through actions’. We can say that it contains the meaning of educating the mind and body in a balanced way as the two parts that constitute a human being, as well as addresses concerns about the question of ‘how can we put knowledge into action?’ Second, character education constitutes ‘a part of the entire curriculum along with knowledge-based subjects’. Plato, Montaigne, and Locke all view excellence, virtue, and the cultivation of virtue as the goal of education. This goal is a holistic goal that can be achieved by conducting knowledge education and character education together. We cannot say that knowledge-based education develops only the faculty of reason, or that character education develops only character or virtue. Third, character education may seem secondary to knowledge-based subject education, but it seems to have ‘its own unique role and identity’. In Plato's educational theory, character education mainly plays a unique role in bringing passion to the table, which is a part of the soul, together with reason. The solidity and ability to experience joy through character education that Montaigne said are preparations for the joy and suffering of our lives. Montaigne also says that character education is more important and difficult to learn than any other discipline, as it is ‘the study of the way to live well’. In Locke, character education is divided into physical training-based subjects and subjects for rest. Locke believes that physical skills such as manners are more important than knowledge in social life, and argues that the key to life is achieving balance and harmony between intellectual activities such as learning and rest.