허친스 독서철학의 교육적 의의 탐구

The educational significance of Hutchins reading philosophy

The purpose of this article is to reveal the reading philosophy of Hutchins and to suggest some its educational significance. President Hutchins and his colleagues published ‘Great Books of the Western World’ in 1952. Hutchins regarded reading of a ‘Great Books’ as the substance of liberal education. By reading these books, he thought that human can develop a rational intelligence. And a cultivated attitude based on rational intelligence was something that everyone should have achieved. Eventually, Hutchins emphasized the need for great conversations through classical reading. Reading philosophy of Hutchins has three educational significance. First of all, classic reading is aimed at realizing the ideals of liberal education. And classic reading should be dealt with as a lifelong education program and for democratic civil education. Reading philosophy of Hutchins suggests several implications for reading education today. First, classic reading education should be developing a rational intelligence. Secondly, the classic reading education must be done for the realization of cultivated mind of all people. Thirdly, classic reading education must be done for great conversation. Fourthly, classic reading education should be done over a lifetime in order to cultivate the right qualities of citizens living in a democratic society. We must believe in education as a way of social reform. It is the role of human beings to overcome and improve the absurdity and contradictions that exist in the real world and so liberal education is responsible for the beauty of the inner world of man. Therefore, to expand liberal education, classic reading education should be emphasized more.