The presentation reflects on the connections between three key categories: the concept and practice of sustainable development, the axiological foundations of education, and an educational model for preparing people for sustainable living. The central issue in the shift towards sustainability is not primarily political or economic transformation, but the human being. Yet today the very idea of humanity is questioned, with diverging views on who a human should be, what they should become, and whether humanity remains necessary at all.
From this perspective, the continuation of education with and in humanity becomes essential. Establishing axiological foundations for human (self-)education is crucial in moving towards sustainable life. Sustainable development rests on four pillars—natural, cultural, social, and economic—which also define core areas of human functioning. Reflections on their axiological bases will form the heart of the presentation.
References will draw on the thought of European, including Polish, philosophers, pedagogues, and educators who explore the meaning of being human from various disciplinary angles. These insights will provide the basis for proposing a model of education for sustainable development, enabling the (self-)formation of people capable of acting rationally and responsibly in pursuit of sustainability.
