Public education was built on this key concept — now it's gone
Summary
This episode explores the life of Wilhelm von Humboldt, who radically reformed Prussia’s education system after Napoleon’s defeat. Host Carl Turner examines the concept of Bildung, arguing that education should foster independent critical thinking rather than rote memorization. The discussion traces the intellectual influences of Rousseau and Pestalozzi that shaped Humboldt’s vision. It details how he built a universal public school system and modernized the university to cultivate fully developed human beings.
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