Confucius as a Critical Educator: Toward Educational Thoughts of Confucius

• In Event: Roundtable Session 19
  In Roundtable Session: Confucianism and Its Implications for Equality, Democracy, and Critical Thinking

Abstract

This paper examines the educational thoughts of Confucius in relation with Paulo Freire and educational action research. Notions of education as character building, integration of theory and practice, reflective teaching and learning, and cooperative inquiry will be explored. By comparing the core ideas of Confucius in education with Paulo Freire and EAR and bringing old to new and East to West, this research paper aims to present interwoven themes as a support system for a cross-cultural dialogue on global understanding in education. It is hoped that researchers and educational practitioners may find the engagement with Confucian concepts in education helpful. The paper is concluded with ethical reflections for researchers and educational practitioners worldwide.

Author

• Juanjuan Zhao, University of Cincinnati