Philanthropinism

Philanthropinism (also philanthropism) is an educational reform movement that was established in the second half of the eighteenth century, rooted in the principles of philanthropy. The name, similar to its rooted origin, is derived from the Greek words for friend and human (φίλος and άνθρωπος respectively). The movement was initiated during the Age of Enlightenment, and accordingly centers around similar social ideas – namely rationalism and empiricism. The movement was, contemporaneously, endorsed by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. The complementary institute – named Philanthropinum and established by the founder of the movement – has been quoted by Kant as following "the perfect plan of education".

The philanthropinists’ ideas of teaching children to become philanthropic, natural and rational beings are partly derived from the theories of childhood and education proposed by John Locke (1632–1704) and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778), among others.