"By my lights, they are getting ready to practice freedom in the service of learning. Back in the 18th century, the great German philosopher Immanuel Kant wrote that enlightenment was freedom from self-imposed immaturity, describing how the process of education was the practice of freedom. When people learn-embarking on the journey of thinking for themselves in the company of others-they are experimenting with choice, autonomy, relationship and discipline."
"They are relinquishing-not completely, and certainly not all at once-their childish ways and trying on what it means to be an adult. They begin to experience that freedom from immaturity and figure out, provisionally, the kinds of lives they want to live. This normally includes, but is not limited to, the kind of work they are prepared to do. Facing this very practical issue is part of growing up,"
College students enter semesters with excitement and nervous anticipation and begin practicing freedom through learning. Enlightenment is framed as freedom from self-imposed immaturity, and education functions as the practice of freedom. Learning involves thinking for oneself with others, experimenting with choice, autonomy, relationships, and discipline. Students gradually shed childish behaviors, try on adult roles, and provisionally determine life paths including work choices. Colleges offer practical opportunities for growth. Doubts exist about whether colleges foster free adulthood, citing political groupthink, demands for ideological allegiance, and unequal admissions favoring alumni or donor children. Such unfairness and conformity undermine educational integrity and value.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]