Pytanie o sens i pożytki ze współzawodnictwa w edukacji liberalnej
THE QUESTION ABOUT THE MEANING AND BENEFITS OF COMPETITION IN LIBERAL EDUCATION

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the purpose and function of competition within modern education, beginning with the assumption that it can still play a useful role in educational practice as a whole, but not in its current form, as promoted by educational policies inspired by neoliberal ideology. The author, seeking a deeper, philosophical justification for competition, invokes the tradition of liberal education, in which competition has long occupied a prominent place, understood as a means to noble ends. Liberal education, which over the years has been enriched by various schools of thought, might benefit from a philosophical grounding to argue in favour of civilised or noble competition. In this revived form, such competition may meet the challenges of the modern state and society by addressing the needs of the subjects of education, namely its participants. The study proceeds as follows: First, the etymology of “competition” and related terms is examined. Then, a selection of examples from various European sources which have made reference to competition over the centuries is presented. Subsequently, the notion of freedom is introduced to the analysis, with the assumption that it remains in dialectic with competition and has significant implications for it. Various philosophical and ideological formulations of freedom are also presented, along with their relevance to education. In each instance, competition takes on different forms due to the differing approaches to education. On this basis, the author seeks to develop new directions for cultivating competition in the modern era, emphasising the need to focus on such categories as mastery, noble (or lofty) educational goals, excellence, and cooperation. In the conclusion, the author presents the results of the research in the form of criteria for modern competition.

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