De la paideia al pensamiento crítico: fundamentos filosóficos para una educación integral contemporánea

Abstract

This article examines the philosophical foundations of Western education from Greek paideia to contemporary theories of critical thinking. Through an analytical review, it identifies the contributions of classical philosophy—particularly Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle—as the genesis of the integral educational ideal. Modern pedagogy, represented by Rousseau, Kant, and Comte, marks the transition toward moral, rational, and scientific education. The twentieth century incorporates new perspectives from language and psychology with Wittgenstein, Jung, Piaget, and Chomsky, who redefine learning as a dynamic and interpretative process. Finally, the paper reflects on the role of philosophy in contemporary education, recovering the proposals of Freire, Morin, Nussbaum, and Byung-Chul Han regarding ethical, critical, and human development in the face of educational technification. The study concludes that integral education requires a philosophical foundation that reconciles knowledge, ethics, and meaning, fostering a more conscious, dialogical, and socially engaged formation.