Ius corrigendi: the dimension of violence and the category of “education”

Abstract

The countless forms of violence in the family that afflict Western society require investigation from a pedagogical and clinical-pedagogical point of view. The ius corrigendi, or the right to correct or “educate” even through the use of physical force, is based on an ancient concept according to which the husband, as an adult male, is by nature superior to his wife and children. Yet, the idea of education – as conceived by today’s pedagogy – does not allow any form of violence. Through research in historical sources, with particular reference to the Italian context, it is highlighted how this right has influenced family relationships and legislative systems over the centuries, making it necessary, in contemporary everyday life, to have an educational action that is opposed to machismo.