<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In this article, classical writings of Kurt Lewin (1890-1947) and Wolfgang Metzger (1899-1979) concerning education for democracy and tolerance are presented. Starting with a definition of „group” and the discussion of the meaning of groups for the individual life, especially the experimental studies of Kurt Lewin, Ronald Lippitt and Raph K. White in 1937/38 on different group atmospheres under the influence of „democratic” vs. „autocratic” vs. „laissez faire” leading style are presented again, in order to give an example for the meaning of atmosphere influences on personal development, creativity and aggression – all topics concerning actual school situations and the daily experience of pupils and teachers. The collection of writings concerning education for democracy and tolerance include some of Lewin’s writings on minority problems and Metzger’s fundamental thougts on political education as a special application of productive thinking in Wertheimer’s sense. Some possibilities of how to change prejudices and to develop tolerance in Lewin’s and Metzger’s sense are presented. As a conclusion, some ideas for actual school life and possibilities to make pupils tolerant and able to participate actively in a democratic society are developed.</p></abstract>

In this article, classical writings of Kurt Lewin (1890-1947) and Wolfgang Metzger (1899-1979) concerning education for democracy and tolerance are presented. Starting with a definition of „group” and the discussion of the meaning of groups for the individual life, especially the experimental studies of Kurt Lewin, Ronald Lippitt and Raph K. White in 1937/38 on different group atmospheres under the influence of „democratic” vs. „autocratic” vs. „laissez faire” leading style are presented again, in order to give an example for the meaning of atmosphere influences on personal development, creativity and aggression – all topics concerning actual school situations and the daily experience of pupils and teachers. The collection of writings concerning education for democracy and tolerance include some of Lewin’s writings on minority problems and Metzger’s fundamental thougts on political education as a special application of productive thinking in Wertheimer’s sense. Some possibilities of how to change prejudices and to develop tolerance in Lewin’s and Metzger’s sense are presented. As a conclusion, some ideas for actual school life and possibilities to make pupils tolerant and able to participate actively in a democratic society are developed.

Democracy as a Good Form of Coexistence

Pädagogische Hochschule Karlsruhe, Institut für Psychologie

Gestalt Theory

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Education for Tolerance and Co-Responsibility in Freedom in the Scriptures of Kurt Lewin and Wolfgang Metzger

In this article, classical writings of Kurt Lewin (1890-1947) and Wolfgang Metzger (1899-1979) concerning education for democracy and tolerance are presented....

Democracy as a Good Form of Coexistence

Published Online: Jul 17, 2018

Page range: 149 - 174

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gth-2018-0014

Keywords
Promotion of Democracy, Group Affiliation, Leadership Style, Civic Education, Education for Tolerance, Kurt Lewin, Wolfgang Metzger

© 2018 Marianne Soff, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Democracy as a Good Form of Coexistence

Published Online: Jul 17, 2018

Page range: 149 - 174

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gth-2018-0014

KeywordsPromotion of Democracy, Group Affiliation, Leadership Style, Civic Education, Education for Tolerance, Kurt Lewin, Wolfgang Metzger

© 2018 Marianne Soff, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Promotion of Democracy, Group Affiliation, Leadership Style, Civic Education, Education for Tolerance, Kurt Lewin, Wolfgang Metzger