A Study Of The Educational Thought Of Plato’s Theory Of Ideas

Plato is the first person in the history of Western education to establish a complete education system.His main educational ideas are embodied in his masterpiece,"Utopia",and his educational ideas are rich in content and structural integrity.It has exerted an important influence on Western education ideas and China’s education.Plato’s educational thought is based on his philosophy.The "ideology theory" and "justice theory" are the theoretical foundations of his educational thoughts.The reality of the ancient Greek society in which he lives has laid a realistic foundation for the formation of his educational thought.Plato believes that the essence of education is memory.Learning is to help recall the previous knowledge.In order to achieve educational goals—cultivating the king of philosophy,he believes that the content of education should include mathematics,plane geometry,three-dimensional geometry,astronomy,and music.After learning the preparatory content,people can learn the deepest philosophy and make final preparations for training the rulers.Plato’s educational thought has a profound theoretical influence.Its views on the nature of education and the purpose of education have had an extremely important influence on the existential education and progressive education ideas.After discarding Plato’s educational thoughts,existentialism,and progressiveism have successively formed their own unique educational thoughts.The rational composition of Plato’s educational thoughts has provided great help for China’s educational practice.The selection of educational goals and the use of teaching methods in educational practice in China have many similarities to those advocated by Plato’s educational theory.Plato’s educational thought and Marxist education thought can be said to be very different in content.Both of them have different views on the object of education and the process of education,but the two are consistent in their purport.It is to cultivate and educate people and promote people’s development.The use of Marxist theory to rationally analyze and discard Plato’s educational thought can effectively guide China’s basic education practice and promote the development of China’s education in the new era.