Hegel’ s Philosophy of Education

The German classicism in the 18th century arrived at the pedagogical expression of the concept of ≫education≪ in two meanings: in the meaning of activity (das Bilden) and in the meaning of state (die Gebildetheit). Hegel Is rightly called the father of generaly education. He sees the basis of the idea of general education in Greek civilization. An important document regarding his philosophical-pedagogical views during the period of his practical school activities in Nuremberg (1813—1816) are his gymnasium (grammar school) speeches linked together by the basic thesis: ≫Sichbilden ist Sichheraufbilden des Individuums zum allgemeine Wesens des Geistes.≪ A look into the structure of education is represented by the ≫Hegelian Bifrle≪ Phenomenology of the Spirit. The road of education leading from Hegel’s theological writings of his youth and his practical school activities up to the Phenomenology of the Spirit shows the characteristic features and the evolution of his idea of education. Hegel’s concept of education is absolutely different from the aristocratic educational individualism of Wilhelm von Humboldt, in the same way as Pestalozzi’s autonomous idea of education is distinguished from Fichte’s idea concept of the ≫right education≪ with a strong nationalist bias. The idea of a general education, emphasized by Hegel, finding its example and fulfilment in the Greek society, cannot be understood today as an idea of return, but as the return of the idea of general education, having its example in Greek civilization, as the basis of the dialogue of history and the present time, the road of education to self-education.