Mencius' Educational Philosophy and Its Contemporary Relevance

This article argues that Mencius' education is 'holistic education' that aims at igniting the 'silent revolution' from within one's inner mind-heart to be unfolded in society, state, and the world. Mencius' educational philosophy is based on his theory of human nature and his theory of self-cultivation. Mencius affirms the totality of human life because he insists that the 'personal,' the 'socio-political,' and the 'cosmic' form a continuum. On the basis of 'totality' of one's life, Mencius regards the educational process as the prompting of the overall awakening of the learner's subjectivity. Moreover, Mencius considers that the human mind-heart is the creator of values and that human life is endowed with innate capacity to make moral judgments. Mencius holds that the most effective educational methodology is a sort of cultivation of the mind-heart through internal self-reflection. Moreover, Mencius insists that the principles of teaching are to be according to the student's talent and that the teacher has to make oneself as a paradigm. In conclusion, Mencius' educational philosophy reminds us of the importance of 'emic' approach of education and the true goal of education in this age of increased quantification, standardization, and commercialization.