Praxis

Praxis is the cycle of reflection and action that leads to transformation. Rooted in critical pedagogy and philosophy, the term was popularized by Paulo Freire in Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1970), where he describes it as the essential process of liberation. Unlike passive learning, Praxis requires individuals to critically analyze their reality, recognize systems of oppression, and take conscious action to change them.

Praxis is a key component of the Pathfinder Educational Model (PEM), which rejects passive, Assembly Line Education in favor of Problem-Posing Education and Conscientização (Critical Consciousness). In the Pathfinder system, learning is not just about acquiring knowledge—it is about using that knowledge to heal, empower, and transform the world.

Freire's Terms

Paulo Freire > Banking Model, Conscientização, Culture of Silence, Dehumanization, Dialogic Method, Praxis, Problem-Posing Education

The Three Stages of Praxis

1. Reflection (Critical Awareness) – The individual or group analyzes social, political, or economic realities, questioning dominant ideologies and identifying systems of oppression.
2. Action (Transformation in Practice) – Based on this critical awareness, they take deliberate action to challenge and transform oppressive structures.
3. Continuous Learning (Iterative Process) – Praxis is an ongoing cycle—after action, new reflection leads to deeper understanding and more refined action.

Related LP Terms

Praxis >

Non-LP Related Terms

Praxis > Conscientização, Praxis, Problem-Posing Education

Notes

The Pathfinder system integrates Praxis into education by ensuring that learning is:

• Student-driven and experiential – Learners engage in real-world applications rather than passive content absorption.
• Rooted in Critical Consciousness – Education must awaken students to social realities and equip them with tools for change.
• Transformative – Learning must lead to action, not just academic understanding.

Example: In Pathfinder Learning Pods, students do not simply study environmental issues—they engage in projects that actively restore ecosystems. Learning is tied to tangible impact.

Praxis vs. Banking Education

Banking Education	Praxis (Critical Reflection + Action)
Passive learning – Students memorize and repeat information without questioning.	Active learning – Students analyze, question, and engage in real-world application.
Knowledge is deposited – Teachers "transfer" fixed knowledge into students.	Knowledge is co-created – Learning happens through critical inquiry and dialogue.
Education maintains the status quo – Reinforces existing hierarchies and power structures.	Education as liberation – Challenges oppression and encourages transformation.
Teacher as authority – Controls the learning process and determines all knowledge.	Teacher as facilitator – Guides learners to explore and develop critical consciousness.
Obedience over agency – Produces compliant workers and passive citizens.	Agency over obedience – Empowers individuals to shape their own learning and social realities.
Abstract and disconnected – Knowledge is isolated from students' real lives.	Rooted in lived experience – Learning is connected to real-world issues and personal growth.
No transformation – Learning is static, with no direct impact on the world.	Praxis = Reflection + Action – Learning leads to tangible social and personal change.

Quotes

📢 "Liberating education consists in acts of cognition, not transferrals of information." – Paulo Freire

📢 "Reflection and action upon the world in order to transform it." – Paulo Freire on Praxis

📢 "The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point, however, is to change it." – Karl Marx