Viewpoints on Education/ Hsun Tzu and Rousseau

Mary Alice DeweesWriting 121.31Ariana Paliobagis             Education in our day and time is something most people accept as a regular way of life. It may come as a surprise that historically education was believed by some to be the only way to achieve distinction in society, to be a ‘gentleman’.  Although very different, Hsun Tzu and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, expressed through their writing why education was essential to mankind.  By taking a closer look at Hsun Tzu’s “Encouraging Learning” and Rousseau’s “On Education”, we can begin to highlight the similarities and differences these men had about the ideas on learning and education.

            Both Hsun Tzu and Rousseau regarded education as a means of becoming a complete, well rounded individual.  While each differed on exactly how their people should be taught, it cannot be denied they both felt knowledge improved lives for the better. It was the learning process that molded the child into the ‘gentleman’.

            Though they agreed education was necessary for this transformation, each one had very different views on how and what should be learned.  Hsun Tzu’s feeling was education should only come from what has been done before. As he states in his essay, “In learning, nothing is more profitable than to associate with those who are learned.”(459) He saw personal thought as a waste of time. Hsun Tzu emphasized ritual was critical to the learning process.            Rousseau on the other hand, thought education should be derived from one’s own surroundings, such as nature and man.  To only follow one path of study was improper; you must experience first then learn.  Rousseau writes, “…when we consider the fleeting nature of human affairs the restless and uneasy spirit of our times, when every generation overturns the work of its predecessor can we conceive a more senseless plan than to educate a child as if he would never leave his room…”(483) Only if life stayed constant would experience be considered fruitless.             Finally, Hsun Tzu and Rousseau were each considered influential writers. While their views are not the same; they both knew the significance of having an education. Knowledge was a vital part to mankind and an enlightened society.