Bildung

Bildung refers to self-cultivation and is a way of being in the world. It is self-education that is reflected in an openness to the world, to the unexpected and all the difficulties and risks that this might entail. The idea of Bildung reaches back into Ancient Greece but is viewed today as a predominantly German concept for which there is no English translation. However, it is sometimes loosely associated with liberal arts education. Though Bildung is linked with education, the concept goes well beyond that to the unending process of education as a human being and always looking beyond the self.

In the past, this self-education was strongly linked with culture, expressed in terms of education in the classics and arts in the nineteenth century in particular. It reflected an ideological coming together of culture and education. This has, in part at least, led to debates about its relevance today. However, contemporary Bildung is understood to be relevant to praxis and providing a counter to the commodification of education and professional development. Though a German concept, it is also familiar across different Scandinavian countries, each with their own respective variation of understanding.

Bildung extends well beyond the notion of cultivating talents and reflects a historical spirit holding that all that we receive is absorbed and preserved. The individual's understanding of the world is built on that which went before. Rendering conscious the assumptions on which the individual understands the world is integral to the self-formation or self-cultivation that is Bildung. Through the process of Bildung, the individual learns to move out from and to bring back to the self differing views of the world through conversations with other professional groups, discourses, cultures and perspectives. Thus, one's sense of citizenship in the world develops in the context of relationship with the other.

This entry discusses the historical understanding of Bildung, how it is characterized today and special considerations with particular reference to its resurgence and link to action research.