Philosophy of Perennialism

The Philosophy of Perennialism emphasizes the universal truths which serve as the base of western civilization. It asserts that these universal truths must be preserved and passed to future generations. Perennialism traces its’ roots to Greek philosophers as early as Plato and Aristotle. It was Plato who suggested there are truths that transcend time. Exploration of these truths is woven into the curriculum of Perennialists. Subjects include the study of math, morality, ethics, and philosophy. In addition, classical literature and writing that promotes critical thinking is paramount.

Robert Hutchins (1899-1977) was an American educational philosopher and proponent of Perennialism. He believed that higher education in general had become overly specialized and failed to promote critical thinking. Mortimer Alder (1902-2001) another American educator and philosopher, spent a great deal of his career helping colleges and schools integrate a Perennialist approach to teaching.

A teacher implementing a perennials philosophy will weave together everything they teach to promote logical decision making and judicious thinking.