Exploring an East~West epistemological convergence of embodied democracy in education through cultural humanism in Confucius~Makiguchi~Dewey

This article explores an East~West epistemological convergence of embodied democracy in education through cultural humanism illuminated in five main themes in the works of John Dewey (1859–1952), Confucius (551–479 B.C.), and Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871–1944): human–nature interconnection, self-cultivation, value creation, associated living, and joy of learning/happiness of living. The cultural humanism, embedded in languages and cultures, flourishes with the ideal of embodied democracy that aims for educating for creative, harmonious, associative, joyful and worthwhile living for all in an increasingly diversified, complicated and contested world.