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Education should aim at destroying free will so that after pupils are thus schooled they will be incapable throughout the rest of their lives of thinking or acting otherwise than as their school masters would have wished
Johann Gottlieb Fichte
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote critiques education that suppresses individual thought and autonomy.

Johann Gottlieb Fichte's quote expresses a concern about educational practices that prioritize conformity and obedience over critical thinking and personal freedom. He argues that such an education aims to limit the students' ability to think independently, effectively shaping them to adhere to the desires of their teachers rather than fostering their own unique perspectives and talents.

Themes

EducationFree WillCritical ThinkingAutonomyConformityAuthority

In practice

Example use cases

During a discussion on educational reform, one might quote Fichte to emphasize the need for fostering independent thought.

More from Johann Gottlieb Fichte

By mere burial man arrives not at bliss; and in the future life, throughout its whole infinite range, they will seek for happiness as vainly as they sought it here, who seek it in aught else than that which so closely surrounds them here - the Infinite
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Upon the progress of knowledge the whole progress of the human race is immediately dependent: he who retards that, hinders this also.
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By philosophy the mind of man comes to itself, and from henceforth rests on itself without foreign aid, and is completely master of itself, as the dancer of his feet, or the boxer of his hands.
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What sort of philosophy one chooses depends on what sort of person one is.
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The schools must fashion the person, and fashion him in such a way that he simply cannot will otherwise than what you wish him to will.
Johann Gottlieb FichteRead
He who is firm in will molds the world to himself.
Johann Gottlieb FichteRead

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