Which educationist is associated with cathartic theory?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (1):
The correct option is (1) Aristotle. The concept of catharsis, which literally translates from the Greek as "purification" or "cleansing," was first formally articulated by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle in his foundational treatise on dramatic theory, *Poetics*. Aristotle defined catharsis as the emotional effect experienced by the audience of a tragedy, which involves the purging of feelings of pity and fear. He believed that by intensely experiencing these turbulent emotions vicariously through the characters, the audience achieved a profound emotional release and a state of restored psychological balance, thereby making him the originator of the classical **cathartic theory**.

The incorrect option is (2):
The incorrect option is (2) McDougall. William McDougall was a highly influential British psychologist, but his primary association is with the **Instinct Theory of Motivation**. This theory, which was prominent in the early 20th century, argued that human behavior is largely driven by a set of innate, inherited instincts. McDougall proposed that each instinct is linked to a specific, motivating emotion, such as the instinct of flight being linked to the emotion of fear. His work focused on the biological basis of action and was not centered on the emotional release or cleansing achieved through artistic drama as defined by the cathartic theory.

The incorrect option is (3):
The incorrect option is (3) John Dewey. John Dewey is one of the most significant figures in modern philosophy and education, renowned as the father of **Pragmatism** and instrumentalism. His key educational principle is "learning by doing," advocating for hands-on, experiential, and inquiry-based teaching methods. Dewey's extensive work focused on the role of the school in a democratic society, the nature of reflective thought, and the continuity between experience and education. While he discussed the role of art, his philosophical system does not centrally feature the cathartic theory as its core concept.

The incorrect option is (4):
The incorrect option is (4) Sigmund Freud. Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, did utilize the term 'catharsis' to describe his therapeutic technique, often called the **cathartic method**, developed with Josef Breuer. In a psychological context, Freudian catharsis refers to the release of repressed, unconscious emotional tension, such as through recalling a traumatic event. However, the original conceptual theory of catharsis, which pertains to the *educational* and emotional purpose of tragedy in the arts, is attributed to the classical work of Aristotle. Therefore, Aristotle is the correct originator of the theory itself, despite Freud's later psychological adaptation of the term.