A critical Evaluation of Rousseau’s Concept of Education and Plato

Rousseau’s theory of education emphasized the importance of expression to produce a well-balanced, free thinking child. He believed that if children are allowed to develop naturally without constraints imposed on them by society they will develop towards their fullest potential, both educationally and morally. This natural development should be child-centered and focused on the needs and experiences of the child at each stage of development. Rousseau was naturalist. His philosophy emerged as a reaction against the contemporary social and political set up. He wrote against theatricality, coercion and cruelty during these times. His philosophy concepts of “Natural State”, “Natural man and Natural Civilization”. Natural state means that simple framing community or state without evils, corruption and social classes. Natural man means, man is governed and directed by the laws of his own nature rather than those of social institutions. ”Civilized man born lives and dies in a state of slavery”. Rousseau man meddles with them and they become evils. However, Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher, who produced works of unparalleled influence.