Thinking of a Human Being as `Homo Fidens' by Examining a Baby in the Philosophy of Education

Abstract

This paper investigates the fundamental characteristic of human beings as regarded as `homo fidens (a person who is trusting)' by examining how a baby has been thought of, mainly in the field of philosophy of education. Both etymologically and philosophically, babies have been underestimated or marginalised. However, when we examine the origin of trust that forms a human being, the interactive relationship between a baby and its parents plays a crucial role in emerging trust. In this place, trust is not transmitted from the parents to a baby or vice versa but emerges in a close positive relationship between them. The existence of a baby is substantially connected to trust, suggesting that trust plays a decisive role in our existence that underpins even mature and better human beings because it prompts us to construct better, mutually respected communities of human beings. Therefore, it is necessary to consider a human being as `homo fidens'.