Around the globe, there are many traditions that deal with the human need for belonging and formation: To be part of a group and to evolve as an individual and become You. In Europe, this goes by the name Bildung, in parts of Africa, it is called Ubuntu, and in Latin America Buen Vivir.

In other parts of the world, it has different names. It is a hallmark of humanity and our ability to build civilizations and keep social peace that we educate and form our minds and hearts so that we can live peacefully in mutual disagreement and even get to the point where we may appreciate differences and plurality.

This book is about these traditions from around the globe. It is also about what happens to humanity when we are confronted with the challenges of the 21st century, such as social media, AI, and the risk of being bombarded with fake news.

How can we educate for such a complete shift in the human condition?To make sense of that, we need to explore what it means to be human. This anthology has the following contributions and contributors:ForewordKlaas van Egmond, the NetherlandsThe World That Might Have Been…Thakur S.

Powdyel, BhutanUbuntu & Bildung: Our Common Heritage 23Mamphela Ramphele, South AfricaPersonal growth, Lifelong Learning and DemocracyJoseph Kessels, the NetherlandsThe Significance of BildungLene Rachel Andersen, DenmarkPractical Implications of a Philosophy of Humane EducationJulian Nida-Rümelin, GermanyLet’s Make Instead of FollowPeter Mesker and Hanke Drop, the NetherlandsBildung and Worldviews: Education through Ubuntu, Buen Vivir and HappinessDorine van Norren, the NetherlandsThe Transformative EncounterMarcos Sarasola, UruguayConfucian Bildung Past, Present, and FutureCheng Yi-Heng, ChinaHuman Ecology Education and Its Foundational Value for Transforming SocietySandra Ericson, United StatesFrom Bildung to IdentityThomas Aastrup Rømer, DenmarkTechnology and the Decline of the Bildung HumanSteve Joordens and Adam Frost, CanadaThe Last EducatorsDr. Zachary Stein, United StatesBildung Brings Hope and Empowerment in Post-Conflict ContextsEliane Metni, LebanonWhat it means to be human.

Kōtahitanga, Unity, TogethernessNoema Toia Williams, Aotearoa, New Zealand. .