Tempering the person: Education, psychology and relevance of Rousseau (Jean-Jacques Rousseau)

This dissertation analyzes the social and familial environments that impact the development of a child's healthy interiority, the basis of character. Previously unconsidered aspects of Rousseau's educational theory reveal that Rousseau not only stressed the importance of the educator knowing the child but equally to know their Self. Without the educator (defined as teacher, parent or caregiver) engaging in a self-reflective process, the space drawn around the successive stages of childhood is compromised since the educator cannot understand the role they play in determining the nature of a child's enclosure. The result of this research is a new consideration of pedagogical theory which is responsive to the individual needs of both the child and educator and attentive to the larger concerns of society. Rousseau's Emile , through text and frontispiece illustrations, is critically examined against contemporary psychological research and current socio-political influences to understand the development of thinking and learning skills, which are seen as preconditions for the development of character.; In the five books that comprise Emile significant pedagogical themes are highlighted by Rousseau and are subsequently addressed in the chapters of this dissertation. This includes: (1) infancy and the way in which the mother communicates with the child, (2) the educator who knows himself before guiding a child towards his own self-knowledge, (3) the adolescent development of mental aptitude to support reflection and active judgment as skills, (4) the need and ability to listen to one's inner voice, and finally, (5) the emerging adult who recognizes himself as a loving being in and amongst the world. Life is recognized as a journey and the adult, now capable of both reason and passion, lives true to the beliefs that have been understood through individual educative experiences.; Rousseau's aim was to develop character. In support of these fundamental qualities Emile provides a useful compass by which educators can chart a focused course. The destination is towards home, the place of one's own interiority, where one can listen to the inner voice, develop trust in one's beliefs and be passionate about the actions one takes in the world.