THE CULTIVATION OF AFFECTS IN THE ARTS: Vygotsky and Steiner's contributions to education
Affection; Art; Education; Steiner; Vygotsky
The aim of this dissertation is to conduct a dialogical analysis of Lev Vygotsky's and Rudolf Steiner's conceptions regarding the relationship between affection and art in education, based on their respective theories. Both authors recognize art as fundamental to the integral development of the human being. For Vygotsky, this involves the interplay between the affective and intellectual dimensions, while for Steiner, it encompasses the harmonious development of thinking, feeling, and acting. Vygotsky views the human being as an intellectual-affective unity, emphasizing that art plays a crucial role in this process by regulating emotions and fostering an awareness of individuality. In Steiner's Waldorf pedagogy, art occupies a central place in education, serving as a medium to promote the holistic development of the child. This study critiques conventional education for relegating art to a secondary role, treating it merely as a means to achieve other ends. Instead, it advocates for a renewed appreciation of art as a fundamental activity essential to the integral development of the human being.