Proceedings of the 7th International Academic Conference on Education
Year: 2023
DOI:
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Education For Human Flourishing from A Global Perspective: Personhood and Society
Álvaro Balaguer, Fiona Gatty, David Johnson
ABSTRACT:
The aim of this presentation is to show the conclusions of the Research Project “Education, Purpose and Human Flourishing in Uncertain Times” (Grant reference: TWCF0528). Specifically, the project explores ‘Human Flourishing’ amongst other concepts such as character, and well-being, under the dialectical relationship between mind and environment. We analyse the purposes of education in the face of current uncertainties and explore how education could support pathways to flourishing. First, we explain the ‘idea’ and ideal of flourishing and the importance of education as a pathway to it. We examine personhood and society concepts related to flourishing and explain how flourishing develops them. Second, we explore the dialectical relationship between mind and environment. Concretely, how education might be pressed into service in the development of human traits, what other support systems are needed in micro and local settings such as homes and schools, and importantly, the role of education in dismantling the factors that constrain the pathways towards flourishing. Third, we analyse how in these uncertain times might we promote human flourishing through collaboration in education. Specifically, what human flourishing means in the context of uncertainty, recognizing that human flourishing cannot happen in the absence of environmental and social well-being. We conclude that education, in a constantly changing world is dynamic, its purposes varied, and its form multifarious.
keywords: Character Education, Global Issues in Education and Research, Human flourishing, Positive Development Education, Well-being