Paulo Freire
Paulo Freire
Paulo Reglus Neves Freirewas a Brazilian educator and philosopher who was a leading advocate of critical pedagogy. He is best known for his influential work, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, considered one of the foundational texts of the critical pedagogy movement...
NationalityBrazilian
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth19 September 1921
CountryBrazil
people requirements dialogue
Faith in people is an a priori requirement for dialogue.
reality views world
The more students work at storing the deposits entrusted to them, the less they develop the critical consciousness which would result from their intervention in the world as transformers of that world. The more completely they accept the passive role impressed on them, the more they tend simply to adapt to the world as it is and to the fragmented view of reality deposited in them.
fighting reality knowing
[T]he more radical the person is, the more fully he or she enters into reality so that, knowing it better, he or she can transform it. This individual is not afraid to confront, to listen, to see the world unveiled. This person is not afraid to meet the people or to enter into a dialogue with them. This person does not consider himself or herself the proprietor of history or of all people, or the liberator of the oppressed; but he or she does commit himself or herself, within history, to fight at their side.
feels former oppressed
The former oppressors do not feel liberated. On the contrary, they genuinely consider themselves to be oppressed.
strive liberation pedagogy-of-the-oppressed
The oppressed, instead of striving for liberation, tend themselves to become oppressors.
fighting trembling-hands generosity
True generosity consists precisely in fighting to destroy the causes which nourish false charity.
lying consciousness situation
Indeed, the interests of the oppressors lie in 'changing the consciousness of the oppressed, not the situation which oppresses them';
reflection action discernment
Reflection and action must never be undertaken independently.
dream spiritual reflection
It is truly difficult to make a democracy. Democracy, like arty dream, is not made with spiritual words but with reflection and practice. It is not what I say that says I am a democrat, that I am not racist or machista but what I do. What I say must not be contradicted by what I do. It is what I do that bespeaks my faithfulness or not to what I say.
doe permit structure
If the structure does not permit dialogue the structure must be changed
exercise world students
Education as the exercise of domination stimulates the credulity of students, with the ideological intent (often not perceived by educators) of indoctrinating them to adapt to the world of oppression.
dream country teenager
It is not possible to remake this country, to democratize it, humanize it, make it serious, as long as we have teenagers killing people for play and offending life, destroying the dream, and making love unviable. If education alone cannot transform society, without it society cannot change either.
teaching listening doubt
This is the sense in which I am obliged to be a listener. To listen to the student's doubts, fears, and incompetencies that are part of the learning process. It is in listening to the student that I learn to speak with him or her.