Villaume's theory for the impulse : A study on the bodily education of the Philanthropen

Abstract

This study was an attempt to clarify the insistence on "impulse"(Trieb)by Villaume, who was one of the Philanthropen, and argued about bodily education.The study also reexamined the theory of bodily education in the field of Philanthropen when modern physical education was still in its infacy.Up to now the only studies about Villaume have been "Von der Korperbilding"(1787)preceding "Gymnastik fur die Jugend"(1973)by GutsMuths, and his many other works have received little attention.The refore, this study focused on the concept of"impulse"by Villaume to examine preceding studies from a different perspective i.e.that the Philanthropen had the same opinion about the body or the power of mankind.Villaume considered"impulse"to be the motive power of the act.He through much of the "impulse"was a bodily power that reason could not control and that teachers had to be mindful of it.Such affirmative consciousness about bodily power was not found in the theory of GutsMuths, the father of modern physical education.