교육목적으로서 ‘자기실현’의 재음미 - 매슬로우의 이론을 단초로 한 논의 -

Abstract

Since Plato, “self-realization” has been regarded as an important aim of education both in the ordinary and the theoretical levels. The paper has particularly focused on the concept of “self-realization” in Maslow’s view on meeting various needs, and tried to demonstrate that his conception based on the functions of mind is unduly recognized in the educational discourse. The defect of his theory also lies in the “hierarchy of needs” wrongly established and thus misplaced which has undermined its validity and logical ground. The aims of education in terms of “self-realization” cannot be tackled such as an “end-state” in the linear system, but rather some significant structures of school subjects and disciplines are to be taken seriously in the light of the complex system, spiral structure and so on. It is simply because these structures constitute the ones of mind rather than its functions operated. As shown, however, the concept of self-realization has a practical possibility to contribute to the educational discourse in that it provides the motivational grounds to the un-educated persons. Nevertheless, it has been argued that this cannot be confused with the particularly logical features of the educated person.