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Philosophy is both the product of, and basis for, the educational ideologies that shape members of our society. Furthermore, the language utilized to describe the actors within society is key to understanding the outcomes of differing educational ideologies. Jean Jacques Rousseau is one of the philosophers who recognized the organizational utility of language in shaping nation-states. Although this language would only matter in the mind of single individuals, the proliferation of these concepts and their subsequent adoption was and is vital to their identification as members of the nation-state, as well as in distinguishing them from others. Words like people, nation, citizen, body politic, popular sovereignty, other, and foreigner were present throughout his social contract theory, which resulted in the creation of imagined boundaries that bind individuals together for mutual benefit. Education was the tool that would construct a common understanding of these terms and bind people together. In his book "Considerations on the Government of Poland", written in 1772, he proposed this nationalistic form of education; "It is education," he said,"that should put the national stamp on men's minds and give the direction to their opinions and tastes which will make them patriots... National education is the privilege of free men who share common interests and are united under law"[1]

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  1. ^ [The Emile of Jean Jacques Rousseau: Selectionstranslated by William Boyd (New York: Teachers College Press, 1956), p.189]


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