The Taoist Pedagogy of Pathmarks as Releasement: Critical Reflections Upon Heidegger, Lao Tzu, and Dewey

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Eight
  In Roundtable Session: East-West Conversation Through International Student Perspectives (Table 7)

Abstract

The question of truth as it relates to the teacher’s role in the classroom raises not only issues of what and how we should teach, but challenges the very purpose of teaching. Since truth itself is a major question of phenomenology, I choose to use the works of Heidegger, especially his phenomenological treatment of (un)truth as aligned with the essential spirit of Chinese Taoism, Tao. The complex conversations between Lao Tzu and Heidegger, with additional insights from John Dewey, created for me a philosophical bridge between East and West that has enabled me to explore a Taoist “Pedagogy of Pathmarks.” Central to this teaching philosophy is what I would call “Releasement” that encourages teachers to release or step back to create a “void,” a space which possesses nothing but at the same time accommodates everything.

Author

• Jie Yu, Rollins College
  Presenting Author