Socrates' students include his native Athens, as well as foreigners from Greek states and even as far away as Africa. Euclid, the founder of Megara School, often wore women's clothes to Athens to listen to Socrates' lectures when the relationship between his mother state Megara and Athens was tense and hostile. Socrates' students are mainly freemen, but there are also slaves. Plato recorded Socrates' conversation with a slave in Minos. Socrates guided uneducated slaves to define geometry by asking and answering questions. Socrates taught not only ordinary young people, but also politicians, generals and officers. Socrates said: "I am willing to answer the questions raised by the rich and the poor alike." I am happy to accompany anyone who is willing to listen to me and answer my questions. " He added, "Not only do I not ask for a reward, but I am also willing to pay back the money if someone is willing to listen to me."
Socrates' students include people of all ideological tendencies. Aristide declared that he was "not a person who supported slavery", while Chrittia denied the existence of God, believing that his belief in God was a fabrication of shrewd political skills.
Socrates' honest and frank nature, his moral integrity, his insistence on the truth and his criticism of the current disadvantages have aroused some people's disgust and some misunderstandings. In 399 BC, he was framed by three small criminals and sentenced to death at the age of 70. Later, the Athens authorities realized the injustice of this judgment, and some people who falsely accused Socrates were executed and some were exiled. Socrates' unjust case has been clarified.
Plato's educational thought
Plato attached great importance to education and thought that running education well should be the top priority of the rulers.
1. He advocates that education is run by the state, strictly controlled by the state, teachers are hired by the state, and what is taught is reviewed by the state.
He believes that all citizens, regardless of gender, whether they are rulers or ruled (except slaves), should receive compulsory education from primary school. His educational content is very extensive, and he advocates the harmonious development of the educated morally, intellectually and physically.
He advocated early education and was the first person to put forward prenatal education. According to his point of view, children should receive preschool education as soon as possible. Preschool education should focus on games.
Children should receive general education from the age of seven to seventeen. The content of general education should include music and physical education. Music education here includes not only music and dance, but also cultural knowledge such as reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as literature, poetry and art. Sports includes not only gymnastics and other sports, but also military training.
5.65438+ Young people aged from 08 to 20, after screening, some of them will receive higher education. At this stage, military sports training is the main task, while learning theoretical knowledge and natural science knowledge, such as arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, music theory and so on.
6. After another screening, a small number of young people aged 20-30 will be sent to a higher level school for education, mainly for dialectical training, to cultivate keen abstract thinking ability, rich and profound imagination and outstanding memory. In addition, we should continue to study arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music theory. People with this level of education can hold state leadership positions.
At the age of 7.30, a few people can continue their studies and specialize in philosophy after repeated screening. After five years of study, by the age of 35, these people can hold more important national leadership positions. After 15 years of practice and training, by the age of 50, they will undergo a rigorous examination and selection, and a few will become "philosophy kings" and become the supreme rulers of the country.
Aristotle's educational thought
Aristotle's educational thoughts are mainly scattered in works such as Ethics and Politics.
Aristotle's educational thought of harmonious development of body, morality, intelligence and beauty is based on his soul theory. He divided the human soul into three parts: plants, animals and reason. Among them, the soul of plants is the lowest, mainly in the body part, which refers to the nutrition, growth and development of the body; Animal souls express human instinct, emotion and desire. The soul of reason is an advanced part, which is mainly manifested in thinking, understanding and judgment. Aristotle put forward the educational thought of harmonious development of body, morality, intelligence and beauty according to his soul theory.
Aristotle believes that in children's education, "the first thing is to train their bodies. In his view, the purpose of physical exercise is to make people healthy, strong and brave, and then form the habit of sports competition; So as to be able to participate in various sports activities. Aristotle pointed out that the important purpose of physical exercise is to cultivate students' brave quality, but it should not make people "fierce" and "cruel" like Spartans. Therefore, he demands that students' physical exercise must be moderate, otherwise it will completely damage children's physique and hinder their growth.
Aristotle also believes that in order to govern the city-state, we must attach importance to the moral education of citizens. In moral education, Aristotle emphasized the importance of cultivating students' habits. Because in his view, reason and habit are the foundation of human virtue. Therefore, he pointed out, "when educating children, of course, we must first work hard on their habits." The purpose of moral education is to gradually cultivate the beautiful virtues of "moderation", "justice", "moderation" and "courage" through practical activities and repeated practice.
In terms of intellectual education, Aristotle believes that the purpose of reading, writing and even painting is for practical use in the future, such as dealing with family affairs and engaging in political life. Influenced by Athens' educational thought, Aristotle classified the reading, appreciation and singing of literary works and poems that should belong to intellectual education as music education.
Music education is the core part of Aristotle's educational thought of harmonious development. In Aristotle's view, music is not only the most effective means to implement aesthetic education, but also bears some intellectual education functions and is an indispensable part of moral education. In his view, music is an important force to form a person's character. It is not only suitable for adolescence, but also for all ages. "If you learn music from an early age, you can recognize the beauty of music and have fun from it; Learning music in adolescence is beneficial to physical exercise and academic performance; When I was young, I studied music to appreciate noble tunes and melodies. Therefore, Aristotle advocates that music must be included in the education plan. Different from intellectual education, Aristotle believes that the purpose of music education is not for the needs of real life, but for rational enjoyment in leisure.