Abstract
From the discussion of humanization in the previous chapter, we proceed to an analysis of Marxist and existentialist influence on Freire’s ideas, pedagogy, and revolutionary spirit. In both Marx and Freire’s work a relationship exists between materialist dialectics, epistemology, and metaphysics. Freire adopted Marx’s analysis of contradictory social relations and the idea formed the basis of his moral outrage with capitalism’s inequities. Freire also embraced Jean-Paul Sartre’s philosophical assumptions supporting the belief in absolute human freedom. Sartre’s existentialism is a philosophy of “being” and “existence.” Yet “being” cannot be understood through purely rational thought, it must be understood as well through existence and lived experience. Freire’s philosophy of education encapsulates both of these understandings.
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Dale, J., Hyslop-Margison, E.J. (2011). Marxism, Existentialism, and Freire. In: Paulo Freire: Teaching for Freedom and Transformation. Explorations of Educational Purpose, vol 12. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9100-0_4
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