Returning to Human Nature: Philosophical Recognition of the Essence of Education and Its Contemporary Value Rooting from Rousseau's Natural Education Thought in Emile

To rethink the essence of education in China from the perspective of human nature is to clarify and emphasize the re- ality,urgency and importance of humanization of education in the philosophical sphere.Therefore,at the present,to study Rousseau's natural education thought in Emile,which is based on human nature,is to emphasize that education should not neglect or even annihi- late human nature because of current utilitarianism,but should highlight the education of human nature.Above all,human freedom should be regarded as a core value to reform the current unreasonable practice of education and the rigid mechanical education system in China,whose aim is to let education unfold naturally and be self-sufficient,so as to cultivate the educatees' cognition of truth,good- ness and beauty and the ability of love for intelligence and health,equip them with human imagination,creativity and sense of meaning about life,and then make them become people who "love freedom and advocate innocence and virtue" .