The discovery of the “Transcendental Man”: An introduction to the Age of Knowledge by S. Raynaud de la Ferrière and its application in Education

I apply R. de la Ferrière’s theory of the Age of Knowledge to explore the current educational terrain. The theory is based on the celestial precession of equinoxes. Civilizations go through great cycles of radical transformation in the religious, cultural, sociological, and psychological aspects of humankind. The new cycle began on March 21, 1948. Currently, humanity is situated in a transitional period moving from a state of believing to a state of knowing. Analysis into monumental societal transformations yields deeper understanding of humanity and can inspire changes in education that incorporate a long-term vision. His pedagogical thought rests on the belief that the most important event in the Age of Knowledge would be the discovery of the transcendent man. He claims that teaching something to a child is not the only important objective; teaching is also to shape a child’s spirit to develop that child’s capacity to observe and reflect, to apply critical thinking in their research, and to love the truth.