Paulo Freire (1921-1997)

Bruno de Oliveira follows a philosopher of liberation through education.

- Bruno de Oliveira

Paulo Freire, a Brazilian educator and philosopher, remains one of the most influential thinkers in pedagogy (the theory of teaching) and social justice. Best known for his 1970 seminal work Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Freire's ideas have resonated across disciplines, particularly in education, philosophy, and critical theory. His approach to education was rooted in a commitment to human liberation, emphasising the need to empower the oppressed and challenge systems of domination. His legacy is found in the transformative educational movements across the globe inspired by his ideas.

Born in Recife, Brazil, in 1921, Freire experienced poverty, hunger, and marginalisation first-hand during the Great Depression. His early life in a working-class family shaped his understanding of inequality and the relationship between power and education. This experience became the foundation for his later work, where he viewed education as a powerful tool for social change.

Freire was trained in law but quickly moved into teaching and educational research, working primarily with Brazil's rural impoverished. His early career focused on literacy campaigns for adult learners – an initiative that would evolve into his radical educational philosophy.

Pedagogy of the Oppressed

Grounded in his experience working with Brazil's poor and illiterate, Freire developed a theory that both challenges traditional educational methods and critiques the broader socio-political structures that perpetuate inequality and oppression. He saw education as a means of awakening consciousness, and, in turn, enabling the oppressed to challenge and transform their conditions.