Virtus et Humanitas: Bridging Virtues and Values of Greco-Roman, Jewish, and Christian Paideia

2026, Religious Diversity and Education in Europe, Band 48, 958 pages, paperback, 99,00 €, ISBN 978-3-8188-0089-5

.doi: https://doi.org/10.31244/9783818850890

back to overview

In an era marked by cultural fragmentation and ideological polarization, Virtues et Humanitas offers a thorough exploration of core themes in the ethical foundations of education. Drawing on ancient Greco-Roman, Jewish, and early Christian texts, the volume examines how classical notions of paideia—the cultivation of character and intellect—can bridge and inform present-day debates on values, virtues, and moral formation in (higher) education.

This edited volume brings together forty-six scholars—renowned, established, and emerging—from classical and Jewish studies, philosophy, theology, and educational science to engage in an international and cross-disciplinary dialogue. The contributors investigate conceptual distinctions between values and virtues, the pedagogical role of narrative, and the relevance of religious and philosophical traditions in shaping educational ideals.

The book advocates a pluralistic yet principled approach to value education—one that acknowledges historical complexity while addressing contemporary challenges. Through critical engagement with ancient sources and modern pedagogical frameworks, Virtus et Humanitas invites educators and policymakers to reconsider the value dimensions of teaching and learning.

This volume is essential reading for those interested in the intersection of history, ethics, and education, offering a compelling case for the continued relevance of classical thought in shaping the future of democratic and inclusive education.

Selected chapters can be downloaded free of charge: the articles

You might also be interested in:

Anders Aschim, Jenny Berglund, Marta Bivand Erdal, Friedrich Schweitzer (Editor)

Minorities, Migration, and Religion

New Perspectives on Religious Education in Faith Communities and Schools in Europe

Kåre S. Fuglseth, Ina ter Avest, Geir Skeie (Editor)

A Pluralist We in Religious Education

Old Narratives in New Contexts

Akademie der Weltreligionen der Universität Hamburg (Editor)

Interreligiöser Diskurs

Dokumentation einer Veranstaltungsreihe

Carsten Misera, Christian Masrourchehr, Marie Meyer, Christian Ratzke (Editor)

Vom Anderen lernen

Postmoderne Bilder und Kontexte religiöser Bildung