Character Development

In character education there are three levels of self–knowledge that should be attained by students.

The first is knowledge of the innate self or character. This means recognizing the inner reality, its various powers, signs and relationships, and how these inherent characteristics develop or are atrophied or distorted. This includes also the discovery of one’s innate strengths and weaknesses.

The second is knowledge of the inherited self or character, which appears as strength or weakness of constitution and constitutes the physical limitations imposed upon the innate self.

The third is the acquired self or character, which must be known not only in its “devenir” (that which has already been acquired – good or bad), but also its “porvenir” (that which is present in potential and must be acquired or avoided).

The desired result of character education is that level of self–knowledge known as self–realization – or the transformation of potentiality into actuality.

(September 1985)