Daoist Lessons for Pedagogy of Authentic Leaders

• In Event: Confucianism, Taoism, and Education SIG Business Meeting: Daoist Lessons for Pedagogy of Authentic Leaders

Abstract

Recent neuroscience findings suggest that decision making while having a rational component is rooted in the body and emotions however, neuroscience provides only general indications that pedagogy for developing ethical authentic leaders should address the body and emotions. Ancient Daoist Chinese sources such as the Huainanzi, Daodejing, Zhuangzi and Neiye assumed that the body, emotions, and mind are an integrated whole and that developing authentic leaders requires pedagogy which addresses the whole person. Therefore, this paper explores ancient Daoist pedagogy for developing virtuous and authentic leaders in light of neuroscience findings for applicability to post secondary education environment.

Authors

• Tom E. Culham, The University of British Columbia

• Heesoon Bai, Simon Fraser University