Psychological consideration of Plato’s view of physical education

Han, Jeong-Seon

Korean Journal of General Education 2014;8(1):193-216.
Published online February 28, 2014.

Jeong-Seon Han

플라톤의 신체교육관에 대한 심리학적 고찰

한정선

Abstract

This thesis considered that how Plato’s view of physical education backed up the modern science of psychology in what respect. Plato did not regard physical education as improvement of the physical condition and put ultimate purpose of the physical education on character building. He regarded body as the bowel containing spirit, thought that strong and sound bowel can contain the sound spirit and can maintain the spirit in its entirety. Why we do the physical education and physical activity in modern meaning is to live a mentally healthy and satisfactory life through maintaining the health of body in optimal condition. In this respect, Plato’s view of physical education can translate into backing up the cognitive perspective and positive psychology of the modern science of psychology. Also, view of physical education can be regarded as backing up the developmental psychology. Plato emphasized that people need to learn the physical education to carry out correct developmental task for our lifetime. Therefore view of physical education can be regarded as backing up learning theory and leadership theory. Because Plato emphasized the necessity of physical education and general education on realizing and leading the ideal nation.

Key Words: Plato, view of physical education, psychology, positive psychology, developmental psychology, learning theory