How 500 years ago the philosopher Erasmus of Rotterdam proposed raising children, and Why do they agree with him in the 21st century

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Respect the child, train his memory, do not forget about physical activity, do not apply punishment, entrust education and training to someone who can provide all this: what is now presented as a modern progressive view of raising children was formulated much earlier - five hundred years ago back - thanks to a single person. By the way, he not only laid the foundations of pedagogy as a science, but also made himself an excellent object of study and an example for those who gnaw the granite of science.

Erasmus of Gouda, Rotterdam

Now this scientist is not exactly in vogue - humanism does not occupy the first places in the list of vital interests of the average reader, but it is quite possible to assume that the time is not far off when the books and treatises of Erasmus of Rotterdam will again be read and quoted. It is rather difficult to overestimate the influence of this scientist on European thought of the Renaissance, and after it on modern society.

It is interesting that the views on the surrounding reality and on the upbringing of the younger generation, which one would like to subscribe to even now, were formulated in a completely different reality - in fact, with the echoes of the Middle Ages. It seems that they, these theses, are not only time-tested, but also do not depend on time. Erasmus, who is often called Rotterdam by his place of birth, was illegitimate, but a desired and beloved child. His father, a Catholic priest from the town of Gouda near Rotterdam, fell in love with a certain Margaret, perhaps a housekeeper. Getting married meant going against the will of the family and destroying a church career, so the lovers just lived together, without a wedding. In such a family, two children were born, the elder Peter and the younger Erasmus. There are different versions regarding the real name of the youngest son - either this is the result of a translation into Latin, or the boy was named that way in honor of the Christian saint Erasmus of Formia.

The boys lived in a happy loving family, but this did not last long. They went to school - the best local educational institution. And then something happened that forever separated this first, happy part of Erasmus' life from his further fate - far from always prosperous, but filled with meaning and purpose. The mother and father of the brothers died of the plague, a misfortune that either left or returned, every time claiming thousands of lives in Europe. Erasmus was left an orphan, and when he was thirteen, he went to a monastery, where he lived for several years. It turned out that it was this step that sent the young man on the only path possible for him. His calling was not at all the role of a monk or even a priest, like his father. In the monastery, Erasmus got access to the most interesting things in his life - to ancient manuscripts, to antique manuscripts.

What and how did Erasmus study and whom he taught himself

He got the opportunity to study Latin and Greek in the library of the monastery, read the classics, immerse himself in the atmosphere of the ancient world, which was enclosed in these documents, a world that eventually became much closer to Erasmus than the real world. In addition, it was either school or innate traits that made him a person capable of self-education: he found pleasure in the study of sciences, it was his passion. Of course, he succeeded. Perfectly fluent in speech, possessing wide knowledge in the sciences available then, a sharp, quick, brilliant mind, but not accepting monastic life for himself, he left the walls of the monastery and entered the service of the secretary of Henry of Bergen, bishop of Cambrai.

Thanks to his abilities and the patronage of influential clergymen, who were guided, in general, by the desire to give way to a talented young man who knew Latin perfectly, Erasmus entered the University of Paris. So the son of a priest from Gouda got the opportunity to do what he loved in his life - to study and spend time among the ancient manuscripts. If we talk about the practical, everyday side, then the Parisian years were quite difficult. Erasmus was malnourished and even starved, his health was undermined, in some way he had to survive. In those years, the young scientist began to teach - tutoring provided a livelihood and did not distract from the sciences. Erasmus could compose and publish his works. The first was the book Adagia, which was a collection of sayings by ancient authors.

Thanks to his intellect, quick mind, ironic outlook on things, Erasmus very easily won recognition in Europe, he quickly became an extremely popular person. He was one of the first humanists - adherents of the system of views on man as the highest value. Erasmus did not strive for publicity, did not seek influence and positions, was not one of those who preached in order to attract as many followers as possible; he investigated matters of interest to him, recorded the results of his reflections in literary works. They, these works, often became bestsellers. What is the fact that in those years - at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries - from 10 to 20 percent of all book sales in Europe accounted for the works of Erasmus of Rotterdam. One of the most famous was the work "Praise of Foolishness", where in an ironic form Erasmus walked through the main vices of contemporary society. Of course, most of the work related to the church - in general, in those years, most of what was written about was related to religion.

The same period saw the spread of the teachings of Martin Luther and the beginning of the Reformation. Luther was one of the many correspondents of Erasmus, the other was, neither more nor less, Thomas More, an English philosopher and statesman. Praise of Foolishness was written as a way to while away the hours during Erasmus's journey to England, to More. The philosopher visited this country several times, he generally traveled a lot, felt like what would now be called a cosmopolitan, a citizen of Europe. Erasmus did not support the reformation, but he also criticized the church, remaining, despite this, a believing Catholic until the end of his life. One of the directions of his scientific work was the translation and study of the original texts of the Holy Scriptures - earlier it was customary to study the Bible through the works of several authoritative theologians.

Erasmus of Rotterdam was appreciated as a talented teacher. First, he received an honorary doctorate at the University of Turin, then taught at Cambridge, was a professor of theology. Intelligence, erudition allowed Erasmus to be an interesting conversationalist and useful consultant for the rulers of the then Europe. The English court did not hide its sympathy for the philosopher, the Pope was his admirer, and Charles V of Spain - the future emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Charles V, who also highly appreciated his acquaintance with Erasmus - gave him the position of royal adviser, while not requiring the fulfillment of any either duties, but giving the philosopher a generous reward. This allowed the scientist to continue his research without being distracted by solving pressing questions of livelihood.

Erasmus of Rotterdam and his pedagogical views

Pedagogical views and issues of education formed an important part of the legacy of Erasmus of Rotterdam. He knew what he was talking about - firstly, he went through the school realities on his own, which actually preserved the medieval traditions of upbringing at that time. And secondly, he saw the process from the other side, while teaching. Erasmus had his own views on how to form a happy and developed personality.

First of all, Erasmus, who does not accept violence in any form, called for the abandonment of punishments, both corporal and verbal. At that time, the use of rods, sticks, and other methods of physical influence on children was considered normal. This was learned by Erasmus himself, who called schools "casemates for torture." Classes should have begun at the age of three; the scientist called the study of languages the best occupation for this age. Erasmus recommended training memory, and most importantly, a special trusting relationship should have developed between the child and the teacher, without which progress in learning is impossible. Erasmus considered important physical labor, which is needed for the development of the individual.

Peter I, who tried to take all the best from Europe, drew attention to the works of Erasmus on pedagogy and education, instructing them to translate them into Russian and use them as a guide. Erasmus did not position himself as a role model, although he could - he reached unprecedented heights. He became the first such famous thinker in Europe, and after him Voltaire was the only person of this magnitude. Erasmus was notable for restlessness, traveled a lot in Europe, was extremely tolerant and did not allow himself to condemn others. He did not recognize violence and was, in fact, a pacifist of his time. Erasmus of Rotterdam died in 1536 in Basel, Switzerland.

The artist Hans Holbein was friends with Erasmus, who painted several portraits of the philosopher - an artist, one of the paintings which frightened Dostoevsky.