The philosophy of education has been around for centuries, with different ideologies and concepts shaping how we teach and learn. The overriding prominence of any education system invigorates learners to become more independent, curious, open-minded, and think outside the box. Educational Institutions should seek to create and maintain a community of learners qualified for the programme's rigorous academic, professional, and civic demands and rich in experience and diversity. Educators and Institutions should ensure that the learning environment is conducive to independent thought and where learners are actively encouraged to question, formulate ideas and express themselves confidently. We should not forget that the end of education is the character of learners. The ancient world has much to teach us about creating the best character-based education system. Ancient philosophies, such as those of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, have been studied and discussed for centuries. Their ideas are still relevant today and can help develop a practical approach to education. The Greek civilisation stands head and shoulders above the rest of the ancient civilisations. This brief article aims to demonstrate the importance of incorporating the ancient Greek educational philosophy of "Stoicism" into the modern education system to offer learners a more effective and purposeful education. The core question is how the ancient philosophy of Stoicism can be used to create the best education system.
The ancient Greeks believed that education should be accessible to all, regardless of social status. Socrates asserts that there are two distinct types of knowledge. The first is common knowledge. This contains precise (and standard) information. He argues that possessing such knowledge confers no noteworthy expertise or discernment. The second knowledge is essential as it is more expert-based with philosophical thoughts. The ancient education system of Greece was designed to produce knowledgeable and skilled citizens who could think for themselves and participate in the democratic process. The ancient Greeks believed education was the key to creating a solid and prosperous society. Better academic performance was the fundamental driving force in gaining recognition, reputation, and prominence in political and social circles and military ventures.
In Athens, young children were educated individually at home or, on occasion, by a "pedagogue." Typically, moral instruction was provided at this age. Reading and writing were taught alongside drawing and counting to children. Poetry memorisation was also prevalent. In addition, the general populace had access to education through the elementary level, but higher education was not accessible to all. In this system, students are given a well-rounded education that includes math, science, literature, and philosophy. The aim is to produce citizens who can think for themselves and make intelligent decisions for the good of the community. This system is still in use today, and many believe it is the best way to educate students. Ancient Greece is known for its many contributions to Western civilisation, including democracy, drama, and righteousness.
I firmly believe that some aspects of the ancient Greek educational system can be adequately incorporated in the current education system to provide an appropriate model for educating students, and that is the character that still has global relevance in the 21st-century education system. One of such ancient Greek philosophy is `Stoicism`. This approach is still used in modern education. We must acknowledge that the contemporary education system is based on old education system. The old education system is based on the medieval philosophy. The medieval philosophy is based on the Christian philosophy. The Christian philosophy is based on the ancient Greek philosophy. Ancient Greek philosophy was based on natural philosophy. The natural philosophy is based on physics. The physics is based on the mathematics. The mathematics is based on the geometry. Geometry is based on astronomy. Astronomy is based on philosophy. The philosophy is based on the truth. The truth is based on nature. The nature is based on the God. The God is the creator of the universe. The universe is the best education system. This is how the education system is evolved.
The philosophy of Stoicism helped shape the education system worldwide for centuries. Cultivating wisdom and virtue through self-discipline and reflection were the critical components of the stoicism education system. The contemporary world is becoming more challenging due to several interconnected factors, including the pace of globalisation, unprecedented level of technological development, geo-political shift, changing population movements and mindset of the people toward economic success. Therefore, the educational landscape is also changing rapidly.
There is a growing global interest in integrating Stoic concepts into education systems to promote resilience and adaptation. Wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance are the fundamental tenets of Stoicism, which are crucial for achieving personal success and happiness. These resources aided individuals in developing more resilience to confront the diverse challenges of living in an unpredictable and uncertain world. Stoicism also aids individuals in establishing harmonious relationships between themselves and the world, which is crucial for a prosperous life. Although specific Stoic ideas may be absent from certain Western education systems, I have seen that many institutions in ex-Soviet nations, particularly in Russia, nevertheless integrate Stoic ideals into their educational systems. Students acquire knowledge by engaging in philosophical reasoning. Many prestigious colleges in the USA and Europe have excluded teaching philosophy and history from their business school curricula and other subject domains unless the course focuses explicitly on philosophy or history. In Russia, regardless of the study topic, all students must learn philosophy and history.
Ethics courses are designed to acquire knowledge about principles of fairness and moral values, while obligatory physical education is intended to develop bravery and resilience. Temperance is explored in class through mindfulness meditation or social-emotional learning. Self-discipline is fundamental to the Stoic ideas, and students must handle challenging situations effectively. In order to successfully implement an educational system rooted in Stoicism, educators must recognise the significance of offering positive reinforcement to students as they advance in acquiring these ideas over time. Teachers can excite their learners and encourage continued development by praising little victories, such as improvements in decision-making skills. Stoic philosophical principles offer a solid foundation for developing an efficient educational system that prioritises cultivating resilience in learners, irrespective of their age or background. By integrating its fundamental principles into academic programs and promoting self-discipline and conscious thinking in all school activities, educators can impart valuable life lessons and help students cultivate essential problem-solving skills necessary in various contexts, including the classroom and beyond.
The current form of education is purely based on academic and economic success. Grades are most important for the learners or even for their family members. People also take into consideration the opinions of others and decide their position in society. People are not paying attention to what they can control or their inner behavioural patterns, such as individual thoughts, behaviours, or actions. Stoic education is solely focused on internal development. However, it is also essential to understand that learning is a reciprocal process based on great camaraderie between teachers and students. If a learner does not see any value in teaching, it is tough for a teacher to provide adequate education to the student.
The education industry, notably the higher education sector worldwide, is facing several issues, and students are battling not only with educational and career options but also with one of life's most fundamental existential questions: who am I? What do I want? How should I live? Furthermore, the transition from high school to higher education is complex, and many students feel high levels of anxiety and stress, which harms their general well-being. In 2017, the American College Health Association conducted a study of college graduates and discovered that 20.5% felt very lonely, 60.9% had overwhelming anxiety, 21.6% lived with anxiety, and 17.8% were with depression. Many parts of the world have seen a significant increase in students' mental health difficulties over the last two decades, and counsellors at many institutions are overburdened with demand for their services. To deal with these numerous problems, students require an education and support system that will create a solid personal foundation. One such type of philosophical system is Stoicism. The philosophy is based on applied philosophy that offers practical insights for dealing with the issues of everyday life, particularly those of contemporary society.
Modern education should focus on the quality of character the learners develop in their education journey, not the excellence in education in economic, structural and reputational terms. It is not good enough to gain profit if we lose our souls. We all must revisit the world's social order and human values. The contemporary world is based on the estimation, assumption, fabrication, falsification, mistrust, conflict, quantification of humans and greed. Respect, dignity, love, morality and trust are all neglected or bypassed. We are witnessing an unprecedented degradation of human values & character. Despite this, did we ever ask this question about this moral degradation? Did we raise the issue of the ultimate goal of our child's education? As parents, do we want our children to become only a high performers in society or build their character to live with dignity? As educators, do we care to provide an education that ensures lifelong scaffolding to our learners to make them moral citizens? As a policymaker at the heart of the Government, we realise that the citizen's character powerfully guides the nation's character.
Martin Luther King Jr posited that the purpose of education is to "build intelligence plus character. For him, good education provides one not only the power of concentration but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate". The character-building process should start from primary school and then move to higher education and beyond. An essential aim of teaching is to develop learners' moral habits, soft skills and skills for life. We all are responsible for building a nation of character, from parents to policymakers. Parents should focus on building our child's character rather than academic performance and exam grades. As educators, we aspire to provide moral and value-oriented heuristic learning experiences to our learners. As an educational institution, we must provide a curriculum that is based on character education. The government should focus on the education policy that promotes character-building education. We all strive to move forward to prioritise character-building activities to ensure our youths succeed in achieving the true aim of education.
There is currently no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of what the finest educational system is. However, the ancient philosophy of Stoicism may offer some beneficial advice. The Stoics thought that education should be adapted to the requirements and skills of each student, allowing them to live a happy and fulfilling life. This method is still applicable today, and it is one of the reasons that the Stoic approach to education has been so practical. The Stoics thought the curriculum should be flexible and adaptable, emphasising the student's character and moral development rather than academic disciplines. The Stoics also felt that ancient philosophy provided the best foundation for schooling. Stoic education aims to help learners to improve their moral character. One of the primary advantages of a philosophy-based educational system is that it educates people to think for themselves. Rather than simply memorising information, students in a philosophy-based system are encouraged to question, analyse, and reflect on what they have learned. This style of studying assists pupils in developing their thought processes and becoming independent thinkers. In addition, the Stoic method encourages pupils to be lifelong learners. I hope that our educators and policymakers would integrate some of the innovative concepts derived from ancient wisdom into our contemporary education system, in order to cultivate a society comprised of ethically upright individuals. National prosperity will be achieved as a direct consequence.