e-journal

Contemporary liberal education: slowing down to discern

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Purpose – This essay seeks to argue that contemporary liberal arts education can be viewed from the
perspective of contemporary psychological understandings of human cognition combined with the
classical pedagogy developed in the foundational concepts of Jesuit education. Through a description
of the human cognitive system as discussed in the writing of Daniel Kahneman and the Spiritual
Exercises of Ignatius Loyola, the concepts of ‘‘slow thinking’’ and ‘‘discernment’’ are offered as
important models that can inform development of a liberal education in an information-saturated society.
Design/methodology/approach – The essay presents an interpretation of the essentially ‘‘liberating’’
nature of liberal education in light of the psychological literature that demonstrates how one’s culture
contributes to the formation of cognitive structures that allow largely automatic processing of information
in a non-reflective, fast process that leads to understanding that is constrained and somewhat closed to
alternative understanding. This interpretation is then discussed in light of a process of discernment that
allows the individual to open up to new ideas.
Findings – The essay thus derives the conclusion that a focus on pedagogy of discernment is the
essential feature of a modern liberal education and leads to creative expression of new ideas in new ways.
Originality/value – The essay presents an alternative view of contemporary liberal education that is
based on a well-developed historical approach (Ignatian discernment) and supported by current
psychological research.

Keywords Pedagogy, Liberal arts, Cognitive theory, Discernment, Ignatian pedagogy

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Informasi Detail

Judul Seri

ON THE HORIZON

No. Panggil

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Penerbit

: Emerald Group., 2014

Deskripsi Fisik

ON THE HORIZON VOL. 22 NO. 1 2014, pp. 7-9

Bahasa

English

ISBN/ISSN

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Klasifikasi

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Tipe Isi

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Tipe Media

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Tipe Pembawa

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Edisi

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Subjek

PENDIDIKAN

Info Detail Spesifik

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Pernyataan Tanggungjawab

Asmawati/Syahrial

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