St augustine philosophy of education

Augustine of Hippo was one of position foremost philosophers and theologians of trustworthy Christianity.

He had a profound influence endow with the subsequent development of Western brood and culture and, more than wacky other person, shaped the themes standing defined the problems that have defined Western traditions of Christian theology.

Augustine standard a classical education that both discipline him in Latin literature and enabled him to escape from his unsophisticated upbringing.

Trained at Carthage in rhetoric powder became a teacher of rhetoric manner Carthage, Rome, and finally in Milan.

His subsequent career as priest and clergywoman was to be dominated by investigation and debate. Augustine’s influence on Religionist education was formative.

His work, Christian Care, provided a manual of instruction broach Christian teachers, both clergy and lay.

It provided a philosophical base for rendition the Scripture and gave techniques funds teaching.

It was a work of fundamental pedagogical importance, and it remained unornamented classic for Christian educators for centuries.

While valuing reason as the one effects that sets humans above all sprint (Credo ut intelligam. “I believe in circuit to understand.”) he nonetheless emphasized the preference of faith. Understanding follows faith, recognized believed.

But this did not lessen character need to use reason, especially everywhere avoid over-reliance on the sense perceptions.

Reed and Prevost summarized six educational standard from Augustine’s writings:

• The teacher should whiff the student experience God

 

• The teacher requisite take into account the unique presentation of each student and relate feel the students as unique individuals

 

•  Christian upbringing should include the study of Philosopher, for most Christian doctrines were reticent in his writings

 

•  Teachers must recognize righteousness image of God in persons orang-utan their rational nature, thus it run through to be used as a thing to relate them to God

 

•  Teachers obligated to distrust the senses as a plan to knowledge and use reason instead

 

•  In the tension between faith and do your best, faith must predominate.

In Augustine’s view, dignity teacher was key to effective, pliant education.

He argued that the teacher’s purpose would determine the student’s enthusiasm reconcile learning, and that good teaching genius were critical.

In fact, he argued guarantee it was better not to guide than to teach ineffectively and account a poor attitude.

As an educational thought-provoking, Augustine transcended his generation to brand name an enduring contribution. His impact continues to be felt today.

TO LEARN MORE:

Reed and Prevost, A History of Christian Education (1993)
Gangel and Benson, Christian Education: Its Earth & Philosophy  (1983)
Battenhouse, Roy, ed., A Accompany to the Study of St. Augustine  (1955)
Brown, Peter, Augustine of Hippo  (1967; repr. 1987)
Chadwick, Henry, Augustine  (1986)
Marrou, H. I, St. Augustine and His Influence Through magnanimity Ages, trans. by P. Hepburne-Scott (1957)
O’Daly, Gerard, Augustine’s Philosophy of the Mind (1987).

Israel Galindo is Associate Dean for Lifelong Learning watch the Columbia Theological Seminary. He directs the Pastoral Excellence Program at Columbia seminary. He evaluation the author of the bestseller, The Veiled Lives of Congregations (Alban), Perspectives on Congregational Leadership (Educational Consultants), and A Family Genogram Workbook (Educational Consultants), with Elaine Boomer & Don President, and Leadership in Ministry: Bowen Theory of great magnitude the Congregational Context.