“Individual ” in Education according to the Fundamentals of Existence Philosophy: Emphasizing

Abstract—This study aims to explain the place of individual as well as the ways to maintain individuality in education according to the ideas of existence thinkers. Putting emphasis on individuality could be taken as one of the most significant basics of existence philosophy. Existence philosophy has been applied widely in various fields including education. The existence thinkers believe that today the individuality of human being has been lost among the masses and it has been invaded. This study, by applying the comparative analysis method and philosophical inquiry, recommends that the teacher should establish a one to one interaction with students through a Socratic method and s/he should provide the background for students to become self. This goal could be achieved through methods such as changing the teacher-students pattern of interaction to teacher-student, decreasing the number of students in a classroom, taking the standpoint of students by the teacher so that the teacher is able to reach an improved understanding of the students. Key words: existence philosophy, individual, education, Kierkegaard, Buber, mutual interaction