Rethinking Education in Light of Complexity Theory: A Concise Philosophical Essay
This paper reconnoiters the contribution of complexity theory to the understanding and advancement of education. Drawing on the framework of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS), it argues that learning and development should not be conceptualized as linear or mechanistic processes, but as dynamic, nonlinear, and emergent phenomena. Key notions such as self-organization, interdependence, and non-ergodicity are applied to educational contexts, demonstrating how cognitive and social processes evolve through adaptive interactions. By contrasting algorithmic, deductive tasks with creative, inductive, the study emphasizes the transformative potential of complexity approach in teaching and learning. The discussion underscores the epistemological and practical benefits of adopting complexity theory as a unifying perspective for education. Ultimately, complexity theory provides a robust framework for rethinking educational practices, fostering innovation, resilience, and the integration of diverse epistemological positions
Publication Details
- Journal
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
- Published
- 2025-11-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.26262/ijce.v6i1.10852
- Primary Topic
- Chaos, Complexity, and Education
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00