Wuwei (Nonaction) Philosophy and Actions: Rethinking “Actions” in School Reform

• In Event: The Influence and Relevance of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism for Education, Self, and Research

Abstract

This inquiry aims to enrich conversation regarding school reform. The author asks about what other discourses are possible when the action-oriented question of how to ‘act’ is a major approach to ‘fix’ current educational problems. Drawing from Taoist philosophy of wuwei (non-action), the author provides a frame to review current school reform movement. Political philosophy of wuwei highlights non-interference or non-intervention governance. Laozi discusses his theory of governance that a sage-leader should take and explicates the paradox of non-action: By not doing, everything is done. The paradox of wuwei complicates dialogues in the field of curriculum theory by opening spaces for taking effortless actions in the midst of standardization and accountability reform movement.

Author

• Seungho Moon, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater