Single Idea 22786

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 5. Education / a. Aims of education]

Full Idea

One of the chief moments in a child's upbringing is discipline, the purpose of which is to break the child's self-will in order to eradicate the merely sensuous and natural.

Gist of Idea

Children need discipline, to break their self-will and eradicate sensuousness

Source

Georg W.F.Hegel (Elements of the Philosophy of Right [1821], 174 add)

Book Reference

Hegel,Georg W.F.: 'Elements of the Philosophy of Right', ed/tr. Wood,Allen W. [CUP 1991], p.211


A Reaction

A standard view for his time, no doubt. No sensible parent doubts that children need to be civilised, and taught to recognise the needs of others. I hope the general aspiration in our society to 'break' a child's self-will has now faded away.