Kant on Education

 

How evil a man and philosopher is Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)? Let us consider his views on childhood education -- via strong duty, obedience, and punishment -- for naturally evil man:

 * "One often hears it said that we should put everything before children in such a way that they shall do it from inclination. In some cases, it is true, this is all very well, but there is much besides which we must place before them as duty. . . . For in the paying of rates and taxes, in the work of the office, and in many other cases, we must be led, not by inclination, but by duty. Even though a child should not be able to see the reason of a duty, it is nevertheless better that certain things should be prescribed to him in this way." --On Education, chapter. 4 section 82, (1776)

* "the history of freedom begins with badness, for it is man’s work." --"Speculative Beginning of Human History" in Perpetual Peace and Other Essays, p. 54 (1795)

* "Above all things, obedience is an essential feature in the character of a child, especially of a school boy or girl." --On Education, sec. 80 (1776)

* "a certain plan, and certain rules, in everything, and these must be strictly adhered to. For instance, they must have set times for sleep, for work, and for pleasure, and these times must be neither shortened nor lengthened." --On Education, sec. 83 (1776)

* "Every transgression in a child is a want of obedience, and this brings punishment with it." --On Education, sec. 83 (1776)