Exploring the ethics of agency through the lens of Bildung

Abstract

Experiencing something of a renaissance, the German pedagogical idea ‘Bildung’ has recently been reconsidered for contemporary education. Historically proposed by von Humboldt, Bildung’s interplay represents a relational movement between a learner and the world that aims for personal freedom and growth. It is also identified as a means by which learners might become aware of their personal capacity to develop responses to daily experiences. Thus, it attends to agency and has resonance with children’s spirituality. Whilst such a notion of learning might be promoted as an alternative to a functionalistic educational paradigm, this paper highlights ethical concerns regarding pedagogical freedom. It highlights philosophically the illusion of freedom and considers critically the place of power in learner-led methods. Finally, the paper proposes how a nuanced, Kierkegaardian application of Bildung might address the ethical concerns raised and proposes how a re-considered understanding of the notion might be valuable for education today.

Keywords:

• Agency
• ethics
• education
• Bildung
• Repetition

Notes

1. Although the two examples cited here represent both Australia and England and Wales respectively, the scenarios described are identifiable in many other countries internationally not least in the USA and other parts of Europe.

2. The description of the class lesson provided here did not form part of an official research project; as an illustration of ‘Bildung as repetition,’ it emerged as the lesson ensued. However, the lesson description is presented here with the permission of the head teacher of the school. As it is a reflection on ‘what happened’ in the lesson, no direct words of children are presented. Permission is also given from the family involved in creating the picture ‘And the bees still buzz’.

3. The symbol of the bee represents the industrial history of the city of Manchester. As a major site of the Industrial Revolution in Nineteenth Century Great Britain, many of the population worked in mills and factories, and were commonly referred to as ‘busy bees.’ This sense of duty and work instilled a sense of strength and unity in the people of the city, and it still does to this day (http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-bee-meaning-symbol-why-13112437 accessed 04 September 2017).