Introduction
Among ancient discussions of Greek education, philosophical idealism makes its first appearance in Plato’s Republic, within his formulation of an ideal state. Here the mathematical sciences and dialectic are presented as affording the student a path to the apprehension of unmediated reality, which, in Platonic theory, is education’s supreme goal. Most subsequent discussion or activity among Greeks and Romans which attempts to integrate philosophical idealism either develops or responds to Plato’s thinking on this subject. Plato’s speculation also succeeded in finding accommodation in more widespread views about ancient educational curricula and in the thinking of some modern educationists.
Synonyms
Plato
An ancient tradition records that above the entrance to Plato’s Academy was displayed the inscription, “Let no one enter who does not know geometry.” The...
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Joyal, M. (2017). Philosophical Idealism and Educational Theory. In: Peters, M.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Educational Philosophy and Theory. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-588-4_1
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