The centrality of education in the formation of the collective man and student: reflections from Gramsci’s thought

Abstract

This text analyzes the formation of the “collective man” and the “collective student” from a Gramscian perspective, emphasizing the relationships between hegemony, common sense, political praxis, and education. Starting from the understanding that social subjects are products of historical, social, political, and economic contexts, it discusses how the “mass man” and the “mass student” internalize dominant ideologies that legitimize exploitation and inequality, maintaining passivity and individualism. The strategic role of education and student representative organizations in building critical consciousness, intellectual autonomy, and organizational spirit is highlighted, enabling the transition from the passive individual to the politically engaged collective subject. Finally, it argues that the transformation of power structures depends on the formation of critical and organized subjects capable of questioning the dominant hegemony and contributing to the construction of a just and democratic society.

Keywords: Gramsci. Hegemony. Common sense. Collective student. Political praxis.