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
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article

Rethinking Education in Light of Complexity Theory: A Concise Philosophical Essay

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Chaos, Complexity, and Education
article

Rethinking Education in Light of Complexity Theory: A Concise Philosophical Essay

article en

Abstract

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

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Openalex Percentile: Top 33%
Chaos, Complexity, and Education
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