The phenomenon of massification and the emancipatory role of education:

notes on Paulo Freire's social thought

Abstract

This article has as its central proposal to analyze the significant contributions of the pedagogical theory and social thought of Paulo Freire, based on key concepts from the Social Sciences and seminal authors, in our field. Through a literature review, the investigation into the theoretical influences on Paulo Freire’s work focuses on the interpretation of “Education as the practice of freedom”, drawing from the paradigms of marxista theory and the sociology of knowledge. These dialogues lead to an understanding of the phenomenon of massification attributed to modern societies, which Paulo Freire seeks to elaborate on through the role of popular education as an instrument for social emancipation and the construction of democratic political participation. By contextualizing the work in question, the objectives are delineated through reflections that address contemporary brazilian society, focusing on sociological issues related to “enlightenment of the masses”, debates surrouding the concepto of “ideology” and the inherent role of “critical education”.

Keywords: mass society; critical education; social emancipation.