Praxeological (R)Evolution in Pedagogical Thinking and Practice by Dietrich Benne

ccording to Dietrich Benner (born in 1941), the separation of educational reflection from educational reality and its explanation have led to a great crisis in the contemporary philosophy of education. Benner states that the only chance of surmounting the crisis lies in a kind of rediscovery of the activity (in Greek – praxis ) as a fundamental element both for the educational reality and educational theory. The first paragraph of the article presents an explanation of praxis as a human phenomenon. Benner defines the activity as object-oriented as well as subject-forming. Therefore, praxis is viewed as a way to become human. There are six individual and social manifestations of praxis , that is economics, ethics, pedagogy, politics, art and religion. Although each one of them, in Benner’s opinion, has become distinct in modern times, they still share some specific features as physicality, freedom, history and language. In the second paragraph the pedagogical praxis is described and education is presented as fin- ish-oriented and of paradoxical character. The third paragraph gives an overview of two modes of pedagogical activity. The first one, originating from the antiquity, is based on social experience and teaching. The second mode began in modern times and presumes that education is not a self-governing process, but one mediated by pedagogical institutions, whose main aim is to prepare young people for their adult life. The last paragraph is devoted to the range of pedagogical praxis realization. According to Benner the realization of pedagogical praxis takes place in three dimensions, that is self-negating relation of authority, education through teaching and transition to cooperation between generations