위기의 교육 현장에서 되돌아 본 Rousseau의 감성교육의 재음미

A Review on the Educational Theory of Jean Jacques Rousseau's Emotional Intelligence

This study aims at searching for the direction of Korean adolescent education, which is in the unprecedented crisis, and drawing its opportune implications through a review on J. J. Rousseau’s educational theory of emotional intelligence. First of all, it is considered from Rousseau’s education in naturalism that the reestablishment of educational philosophy has to be made if we genuinely realize the need of an education system for the happier developing younger generation. Second, according to Rousseau’s theory based on education in naturalism, the principle of self-preservation and the principle of autonomy are heavily suggested. These two principles are significant and inevitable to create educational environment both in and out of school, in which adolescent students can recognize the importance and value of self-esteem. The principles also reveal the importance of fulfillment of what freedom and liberty is, which is needed for students to acquire the principle of autonomy. Third, as Rousseau insists, the practical tasks of his educational philosophy lie mainly in adolescents’ emotion education and knowledge education. It is repeatedly emphasized that the purpose of education should be the balanced development and training of body and sensibility in childhood and it should be the key to achieving the educational goals. Rousseau seems to think that the training of body and sensibility in childhood means more than simply raising physically healthy children or indicating the importance of direct experiences through senses. But it is rather a kind of remedy to relieve the state of mental unease and passions, which is generally experienced in the specific development process of building a man of rationality and morality. It is a particularly apt time to reconsider the contemporary implications of Rousseau’s educational philosophy on emotional intelligence and adopt its essential meaning to the present crisis of education environment realistically and flexibly.