Confucius' Thought of Education and Insights for Today’s Moral Education

Abstract

The present paper attempts to gain insights into Confucius' thought of education and to draw lessons for today’s education in the Industry 4.0 era. Confucius, the founder of Confucianism, deserves the world recognition as ‘the great exemplary teacher for generations’ for his dedication and contributions to education with respect to the role, aim, contents, and pedagogical methods of education. As per Confucius, education should be a universal right and not a privilege only to a group of people in society. The theory of ‘no class distinction in education’ soon initiates a real revolution in ancient educational thought, availing education to the broad masses of ordinary people. This radical thought is the greatest of all, attesting the importance of equity and equality in education to people from all walks of life. A synthesis of Confucius' thought of education from prior studies, thus, extends the existing literature on education philosophy and expands global understanding of the greatest educational thoughts of all time. These insights have practical implications for today’s educational leaders and policymakers alike.