Meaning-Centered Positive Education (PE 2.0): Based on the New Paradigm of Existential Positive Psychology (EPP)

This chapter makes the case that a brave new world of artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, and global nuclear warfare calls for a paradigm shift toward existential positive psychology (EPP or PP2.0) with existential universals and indigenous psychology as its cornerstones. The three basic tenets of EPP are (1) true positivity is to see and be the light in the darkness, (2) effective coping with adversity and conflicts depends on dialectical/paradoxical rather than binary/rational logic, and (3) a positive outcome (mature happiness) results from the process of self-transcendence and mental disciplines such as mindfulness, meaning mindset, dialectical mindset, and resilient mindset. In addition, this chapter proposes a meaning-centered positive education (PE2.0) based on EPP. This alternative view of positive education, with spirituality and religion as its cornerstone, proposes a new approach to equip children for survival and flourishing in a brave new world. This existential positive education (PE) points out that happiness and success are the byproducts of (1) accepting the three basic tenets of EPP, (2) practicing the five broad strategies of transforming negatives/weaknesses into positives/strengths, and (3) following the seven existential principles of self-transcendence for daily living. A case study is provided to illustrate the usefulness of the above conceptual framework.