The Arts of Education and Governance: Peace in the Person and in the State

The chapter 'The Arts of Education and Governance: Peace in the Person and in the State' delves into the interconnected roles of education and governance in fostering peace. It begins by emphasizing the necessity of unifying scholarly and warrior roles in society, drawing on Thucydides' wisdom. The author argues that education and governance, both ethical arts, aim to realize order and peace, with education focusing on the individual and governance on the state. Using Aristotle's distinction between nature and art, the chapter explains how these arts aid in removing impediments to natural order without substituting for it. The author discusses the tasks of education, such as disposing the intellect towards truth, the will towards good, and the hands towards work, all aimed at shaping the human person. Similarly, governance is seen as an art that removes impediments to order and peace in the state, fostering prudence, fortitude, temperance, and justice. The chapter concludes by proposing a peace studies program that incorporates African anthropology, emphasizing the importance of inculturation in addressing African challenges. This comprehensive exploration of the ethical arts of education and governance offers a fresh perspective on achieving peace through holistic personal and societal development.