general thesis of dissertation

In this short English abstract I would like to show you some problems I solve in my dissertation work.

This paper could be divided to two parts. Firstly I would like to make you acquainted with my conception. Secondly I would like to introduce some important thinkers in philosophy who will be mentioned in my work.

My work begins with philosophical and theological system of John Amos Komensky, an important Czech philosopher, pedagogue and theologist. This master of renaissance and humanistic philosophy probably concentrates all previous philosophical and cultural European paradigms in his work. His educational system consists of critique of these previous systems. This general critique is not destructive, but it leads to a new system, re-established world system. It was needed to accomplish general rehabilitation of all human things.

Komensky was surely last giant of renaissance, but in his age new philosophical system had already been established. Historians usually say that year 1492, when Ch. Columbus discovered America, could be considered as the beginning of the Modern Times and Rene Descartes could be considered as the first philosopher of that time, but the discovery of America and Descartes’s philosophy weren’t the only motives of change of course. There were many important men who had changed paradigm: physicists (Newton), astronomers (Galileo, Kepler), logicians (Bacon) and evidently many other scientists in all sciences. Method of science has been changed as well. In place of four classical causes there was henceforward only one, cause efficient. New theories of cognition have been established, new vision of humanity has been shown. Naturally the society has changed as well. The transmutation process hasn’t stopped till present and it’s influence on education and understanding of childhood is evident.

In my dissertation I would like to analyse this historical changes and specify concrete philosophical subprocesses which led, surely in confrontation with praxis, to present situation in science of education and schools.

In this summary I couldn’t notify you of all important individuals and systems in the Modern Times who influenced on historical evolution of mind of education, but I can make you acquainted with some names of philosophers who will be reminded in my work. Firstly I need to analyse the essentials of Komensky system. Then have to remember philosophical opinions of Descartes and important English empiricists, such as J. Locke, G. Berkeley and D. Hume, too. One of the most important chapters will be dedicated to Immanuel Kant and next one to philosophical thought of German idealists Fichte, Schelling, Hegel and totalitarian systems of 20th century. Closing chapters deals with the pedagogical systems presented by Herbart, Dewey and ideas of educational reformism. Absolutely on the end I shall diagnose present situation and show some philosophical problems of education in democratic states.