The Concept of Merdeka Belajar in a Review of Naturalism and Modern Education Streams

Abstract

This article aims to analyze comparatively the views of the philosophy of naturalism and the modern school of education and its relevance to the concept of Freedom of Learning in the Indonesian education system. Freedom of Learning is understood not only as an education policy, but also as a reflection of the philosophical foundations that affect the goals, learning process, and roles of educators and students. This research uses a qualitative approach with a literature study method through the study of works of educational philosophy figures, scientific journal articles, and national education policy documents. Data were analyzed using thematic and comparative analysis to identify similarities, differences, and conceptual intersections between naturalism and modern education. The results show that naturalism emphasizes the natural development, freedom, and individuality of learners, while modern education emphasizes collaborative, reflective, and student-centered learning within a structured social framework. The synthesis of these two perspectives is reflected in the concept of Freedom of Learning which integrates freedom of learning with social responsibility and meaningful learning. Thus, the integration of naturalism and modern education provides a strong philosophical foundation for the development of Freedom of Learning in the context of Indonesian education