How Can We Learn from Milieus?

 Environmental education requires a philosophical reevaluation. As evidence of this need, Humphreys and Blenkinsop (2017) note that educational theories remain fragmented due to the absence of strong philosophical foundations, while the educational discourse also lacks the coherence needed to trans...

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Main Author: Kristupas Sabolius
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Vilnius University Press 2025-01-01
Series:Acta Paedagogica Vilnensia
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Online Access:https://www.journals.vu.lt/acta-paedagogica-vilnensia/article/view/38419
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author Kristupas Sabolius
author_facet Kristupas Sabolius
author_sort Kristupas Sabolius
collection DOAJ
description  Environmental education requires a philosophical reevaluation. As evidence of this need, Humphreys and Blenkinsop (2017) note that educational theories remain fragmented due to the absence of strong philosophical foundations, while the educational discourse also lacks the coherence needed to transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. Additionally, Sonu and Snaza (2016) argue that failing to question the assumptions underlying the concept of the human subject risks grounding the relationship between humans and the world in a ‘momentary ethic’, where partial knowledge is tied to accidental actions. In light of these critiques, it is clear that environmental education requires a philosophical reevaluation and rearticulation of issues such as entanglement to and with the individual. This paper argues that the abstract notion of ‘environment’, defined by its distinction from the individual, contrasts with the idea of ‘milieu’, which implies a connection to the individual, making the milieu a solid foundation for developing a philosophical theory of education. This argument is supported by bringing together theoretical and practical dimensions – namely, Gilbert Simondon’s theoretical concept of the ‘associated milieu’ and Phenomenon-Based Learning as a concrete educational practice. This approach not only identifies the individual as directly connected to the milieu but also demonstrates the potential to develop processes of connectedness to milieus as educational practices. In this respect, integrating philosophical insights with educational practices complements theories of environmental education, thereby creating an educational dimension which unites complex natural, cultural, and social phenomena.
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spelling doaj-art-16844a89efdf425782dafaa581ed5ea22025-01-20T18:08:19ZengVilnius University PressActa Paedagogica Vilnensia1392-50161648-665X2025-01-015310.15388/ActPaed.2024.53.1How Can We Learn from Milieus?Kristupas Sabolius0Vilnius University, Lithuania  Environmental education requires a philosophical reevaluation. As evidence of this need, Humphreys and Blenkinsop (2017) note that educational theories remain fragmented due to the absence of strong philosophical foundations, while the educational discourse also lacks the coherence needed to transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. Additionally, Sonu and Snaza (2016) argue that failing to question the assumptions underlying the concept of the human subject risks grounding the relationship between humans and the world in a ‘momentary ethic’, where partial knowledge is tied to accidental actions. In light of these critiques, it is clear that environmental education requires a philosophical reevaluation and rearticulation of issues such as entanglement to and with the individual. This paper argues that the abstract notion of ‘environment’, defined by its distinction from the individual, contrasts with the idea of ‘milieu’, which implies a connection to the individual, making the milieu a solid foundation for developing a philosophical theory of education. This argument is supported by bringing together theoretical and practical dimensions – namely, Gilbert Simondon’s theoretical concept of the ‘associated milieu’ and Phenomenon-Based Learning as a concrete educational practice. This approach not only identifies the individual as directly connected to the milieu but also demonstrates the potential to develop processes of connectedness to milieus as educational practices. In this respect, integrating philosophical insights with educational practices complements theories of environmental education, thereby creating an educational dimension which unites complex natural, cultural, and social phenomena. https://www.journals.vu.lt/acta-paedagogica-vilnensia/article/view/38419environmental educationenvironmentmilieuassociated milieuimaginationphenomenon-based teaching
spellingShingle Kristupas Sabolius
How Can We Learn from Milieus?
Acta Paedagogica Vilnensia
environmental education
environment
milieu
associated milieu
imagination
phenomenon-based teaching
title How Can We Learn from Milieus?
title_full How Can We Learn from Milieus?
title_fullStr How Can We Learn from Milieus?
title_full_unstemmed How Can We Learn from Milieus?
title_short How Can We Learn from Milieus?
title_sort how can we learn from milieus
topic environmental education
environment
milieu
associated milieu
imagination
phenomenon-based teaching
url https://www.journals.vu.lt/acta-paedagogica-vilnensia/article/view/38419
work_keys_str_mv AT kristupassabolius howcanwelearnfrommilieus