Paulo Freire: The Brazilian Philosopher Who Revolutionized Education
A Brazilian philosopher who changed how the whole world views education, Paulo Freire and his work are of utmost importance to the areas of philosophy, pedagogy, and the Social Sciences as a whole.
Paulo Reglus Neves Freire was born in Recife, the capital of Pernambuco, one of the Northeastern states of Brazil, in 1921. He is one of the founders of the critical pedagogy movement and is regarded worldwide as one of the most important minds in the areas of philosophy of education and pedagogy. His magnum opus, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, was a groundbreaking book at the time and remains extremely relevant to this day.
The Northeast of Brazil is a region that went through several hardships during the history of the country due to the naturally harsh environment and the constant abuse of power by local authorities. This rough reality only became worse during the Great Depression of 1929, which heavily impacted the economy of Brazil.
During that time, even though Paulo belonged to a middle-class family, the economical crisis forced them into temporarily experiencing poverty and hunger first-hand. It was through the experience of living in such a harsh reality that the philosophy of Paulo Freire was born.
