Pedagogy of the Oppressed
by Paulo Freire
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A dialectic is a contradiction or conflict between two separate ideas that are then synthesized into a new idea (i.e. thesis, antithesis, and synthesis). Dialectics are important to Marxist and Hegelian philosophy, and Freire argues that they represent the fundamental logic of the world. Therefore, Freire’s pedagogy relies on the use of dialectics to help students understand their conditions.

Dialectic Quotes in Pedagogy of the Oppressed

The Pedagogy of the Oppressed quotes below are all either spoken by Dialectic or refer to Dialectic. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Freedom and Oppression Theme Icon
).

Chapter 3 Quotes

[Themes] imply others which are opposing or even antithetical; they also indicate tasks to be carried out and fulfilled. Thus, historical themes are never isolated, independent, disconnected, or static; they are always interacting dialectically with their opposites.

Related Characters: Paulo Freire (speaker)
Page Number and Citation: 101
Explanation and Analysis:
Freire says that problem-posing educators can use the investigation of themes to help oppressed people understand their conditions. He then talks about his conception of history, where he defines themes as the worldly expression of ideas, values, and beliefs during a historical moment. Importantly, Freire talks about themes in terms of the dialectic logic underpinning other parts of the book—such as the relationship between oppressors and the oppressed, or between teachers and their students. When an idea like oppression, for example, is popular at a given point in time, there is also an opposing idea of liberation. Freire does not Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperia
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Dialectic Term Timeline in Pedagogy of the Oppressed

The timeline below shows where the term Dialectic appears in Pedagogy of the Oppressed. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Preface
Static History vs. Fluid History Theme Icon
Maintaining and Overthrowing Oppression Theme Icon
Dialectics Theme Icon
...natural changes of history. When leftists turn to sectarianism, they can attempt to combine a dialectic logic with the unchanging perspective of sectarians; this, in turn, leads them to believe that... (full context)
Chapter 1
Freedom and Oppression Theme Icon
Static History vs. Fluid History Theme Icon
Maintaining and Overthrowing Oppression Theme Icon
Dialectics Theme Icon
The results of liberation should be twofold (and, to Freire, dialectical): there should be an objective change in how society works, and a subjective change in... (full context)