Aims of Education Revisited (Einstein’s E = MC2 of Education)

Abstract

Schooling cannot be evaluated nor improved without reference to the aims of education. This chapter presents a perspective on the aims of education from the little-known educational philosophy of Albert Einstein. Einstein held that, “…The aim (of education) must be the training of independently acting and thinking individuals, who, however, see in the service of the community their highest life problem.” It is argued that the shortcoming of traditional education can be summarized as the tendency to produce the exact opposite result of Einstein’s aim, or its actual inversion. That is, too often, mass education in its quest for standardization interferes with the nurturing of independently acting individuals and their unique potential; and the common goals of the community are increasingly neglected as the implicit goal of education is perceived to be singularly focused on the pursuit of individualistic ends. Einstein’s “theory of motivation” emphasizing “holy curiosity” and joy in the subject matter is further expanded. Einstein’s viewpoint is consistent with modern conceptions of Positive Youth Development: It supports a vision of youth engagement as one of making of positive contributions to the self, others, and civil society. It can also help to ameliorate the growing sense that individual achievement and attainment is the ultimate goal not only in school but also in life. Rather, educators may come to understand one of their most important functions as identifying and supporting youths’ future directions and sense of mission based on their strengths, interests, and values.KeywordsIntrinsic MotivationPositive Youth DevelopmentIndividual HumanityMass EducationYouth EngagementThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.