Seeking a Whole-Person Approach to Education: Revisiting Nineteenth-Century Neo-Scholasticism

Abstract

Education in the nineteenth century witnessed a revival of classical Scholasticism brought to use by many educational institutions within Europe and North America. These institutions felt a burgeoning tension among contemporary church teaching, enlightenment thinking, and the new philosophical thoughts emerging from Europe. Although Neo-Scholasticism sought to counter nineteenth-century secular philosophies, it ultimately failed as a system to teach the whole person within its educational structures. The purpose of this article is to explore the revival of Scholasticism in the nineteenth century, present an insight into the development of nineteenth-century thought from Christian leaders, and offer a critique of Neo-Scholasticism as an educational system in order to spur conversations within Christian higher-education institutions. Implications for practice include addressing educational issues to educate the whole person that involve the mental, physical, social, and spiritual attributes of the student.