3 FROEBELS PRACTICE: „THE GIFTS“

At that point, symmetry again comes into focus: it is the very concept that comprises all of these conditions. By his „Spielgaben“ (gifts for play), Froebel conceived a system of material objects for playing and learning activities, which stimulate the whole personality on the elementary level as well as in a far-reaching perspective:

 - The Ball (the sphere), represents the comprehensive, i.e. the most general, yet indeterminate symmetry of the universe,

- the Cube, as an integer polyhedron, is the symbol of oriented space, of physical stability, and of solidity of matter,

- the Cube, divided in several different manners, gives access to plane ornaments and to visualisation of arithmetics.

 These basic integral polyhedra are supported by colored papers (for paper folding, pattern matching etc.), by sticks and knots and - of course - by free experience of the natural environment in explorative games -- all these experiences animated and enriched by corporeal, verbal and artistical activities. They help the child to find its own individual way to the world, to God and to the own personal self, by „assimilation“ of and „accomodation“ to an elementary, well ordered environment that is mentally obtained mainly through objects that represent the dimensions of symmetry in the process of orientation for life:

-- „Lebensformen“ (forms of life) help the child to get aware of the symmetries and structures of objects of daily life: elementarization by reduction;

-- „Erkenntnisformen“ (forms of cognition) guide to mathematical laws by means of playing with geometrical objects: rationalization by systematization;

-- „Schönheitsformen“ (forms of beauty) give access to the unity of order and emotion, of receptive and expressive mental structures, as present in the active experience of symmetry: emotionalization by sensual expression.

 The importance of early encounter with the „Gifts“ for the holistic formation of the personality of a genius has impressively been testified by Frank Ll.Wright.

By examples from my own courses I suggest adaptations of these ideas as an approach to interdisciplinary, yet „normal“ contemporary school practice.

SUMMARY: THE ETHICAL DIMENSION OF SYMMETRY

The program of Raffaellos „Stanza della Segnatura“ renders an artistic verification of the great program of a unification of mind, nature and God. Our interpretation will make us understand this unity as a specification of Kants „esthetic judgement“, which in „Critique of Judgement“ he understands as the very essence of humane acting in the world, insofar as „beauty is the morally good in appearance“ (Schiller). Thus our considerations will culminate in being induced to identify symmetry as a symbol of  „esthetic“ ethics.