Abstract

In this essay, Mordechai Gordon explores the significance of Rilke’s challenge to “live the questions” and embrace uncertainty with respect to the quest for certainty in education. The quest for certainty in education refers to our desire to gain a sense of psychological security and more control over a field that is fundamentally indeterminate. This quest implies an unwillingness to live with the inherent complexities and risks of education. After exploring the meaning and import of Rilke’s challenge and comparing it to the position of Socrates, Gordon uses Rilke’s insight to analyze a specific educational experience and then discusses some of its educational implications for teacher education.