Inside Out, Outside In: Thinking a Tagorean Future of Education

Abstract

Rabindranath Tagore's ideas can still inspire education in the East as well as in the West today. In this paper, I survey Tagore's philosophical anthropology and argue that there is more coherence to his philosophy and pedagogy than is usually seen. For Tagore, the highest goal is to make the world one's own, as well as to enlarge one's self to encompass the world. The educational practices through which this ideal can be reached can be classified as "creative action," "love," and "freedom." On the basis of such an ideal, realms such as the arts, nature, and movement no longer remain expendable additions to the kind of knowledge-driven education that aims primarily at making everyone economically productive. One of the problems with such a pedagogical strategy is that it treats human beings as means and not as ends. Tagore's educational approach (his "method of nature") refrains from turning children into adults as soon as possible and accepts the deceleration of learning and the simplification of living as most forward-leading approach to a successful and comprehensive education.

Stimulating Creativity Through Cognitive Symmetry Breaking: Tagorean Theory of Sustainable Human Development

“…Some studies have suggested that the approach may have potential benefits in terms of promoting creativity, critical thinking, and holistic development of the individual [32]. For example, a study conducted found that the Tagorean approach to education was effective in promoting creativity among primary school students in India [33].…”