Education for Freedom: The Philosophy of Education of Jacques Maritain

E.R. Campbell was a higher education consultant who lived in Toronto.

This is a study of the philosophy of education of Jacques Maritain (1882-1973), French philosopher, who was most interested in the philosophy of Being, or Thomism, and believed it could answer contemporary problems, both theoretical and practical. “Education for freedom” connotes a liberal education, or a broad education, including much humanities exposure, in contrast to professional or vocational education. He believed that “education directed toward wisdom, centered on the humanities, aiming to develop in people the capacity to think correctly and to employ truth and beauty, is education for freedom, or liberal education. Whatever his particular vocation may be, and whatever special training his vocation may require, every human being is entitled to receive such a properly human and humanistic education” (p. 1). Maritain also stated that “man no longer believes that science and technology alone insure the progress and happiness of his species” (p. 2).

Three prefaces and a foreword introduce this book and Maritain. There is a very adequate introduction devoted to different aspects of Maritain’s philosophy — i.e., Thomism, and Christian and educational philosophy. Five chapters then discuss Maritain’s ideas on the philosophy of personalism and on the philosophy of education.

The conclusion, entitled “The Relevance of Maritain,” ties together the ideas discussed in the other chapters. Finally, there is a very comprehensive classified bibliography. The work contains both bibliographic and content footnotes.

Allard’s excellent study of Maritain’s philosophy of education expounds on the philosophy of personalism, which is most relevant to contemporary educational thought. The book is a significant contribution, which will influence the field of philosophy of education and will be a lasting contribution to the understanding of what it means to be liberally educated. In today’s career-oriented educational climate it is most appropriate to be reminded that to graduate from a private trade school does not make one an educated person. One also needs exposure to the liberal arts. This points out the value of a polytechnical education.