Thursday, August 14, 2008

What do you think?

I am thinking of buying Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Emile

Thoughts?

Don't worry...I know Rousseau's views are far from my own. I have just always wanted to read some of his works.

5 comments:

Sheri said...

I will not even comment to reveal my ignorance.

Mainely Me said...

I'm ignorant; tell me more.

Unknown said...

You silly mothers! If only you knew that your opinions are of the most highly prized to us!

If you click on the link to Rousseau you will get an overview.

He does go off the basis that men are naturally good. However, his thought influenced (partially) the development of the romanticism era. Even if I disagree with the book, it may deserve to be read to understand people and their thoughts.

He wrote on the philosophy of education in this semi-fictional book.

In a class I took on the philosophy of education, this book was mentioned quite a bit. I have wanted to read it since then; however, I am under the impression that care must be taken when reading books contrary to Scriptural beliefs at a young age. I know I am still young, but I am feeling a deeper root to my faith that would allow me to read books such as this with discretion and not with the fear of being blown here and there by various philosophies.

As I am undertaking the task of schooling my children, I am feeling the need to school myself in the area of education.

Since I have wanted to read this book, I naturally thought this would be a good place to start.

Thoughts?

JPB said...

Rousseau is interesting, certainly, and has a lot of good things to say ... though he's a nut case.

If you're looking for something really good on the philosophy of education, the best thing I've read lately has been Paulo Friere's Pedagogy of the Opressed. Friere is a Marxist, but there is a great deal of excellent thought about genuinely liberating education. Especially chapter two.

I've never read Emile, by the way, let me know what you think.

As for reading so-called secular authors, I rely upon that quote I posted from good ol' Jean Cauvin the other day.

The sarcred - secular distinction ought to have no impact on our recpetion of the truth where we find it!

Eyes_Wide_Open said...

I second Pedagogy of the Oppressed. I can't say that I've read it in its entirety, but we read selections from it in my Lit and Pedagogy class at OSU. And chapter 2 is one that we read. Maybe we can read it together and discuss it Jodi.

Don't think you're ignorant moms. I'm not familiar with that book either. I'm familiar with Rousseau, but not that particular work.