批判意识(Critical Consciousness)，在西方思想史上有数名学者提及，例如法国思想家傅科(M. Foucault)或德国哲学家康德(I. Kant)等，但究其二者论述范围，仅存在于哲学或社会思想范畴。而巴西教育学家保罗．弗雷勒(Paulo Freire)则将批判意识(Critical Consciousness)这个概念从抽象的哲学思维加以转化，融入精神分析学派、马克思主义、早期法兰克福学派、存在主义等思潮，再揉合教育领域，并以巴西当时社会情境为土壤，实践其教育图像，进而开启批判教育学的思想渊源，对教育学领域有深远的影响。本词条因此试图梳理其对于批判意识(Critical Consciousness)之论述、加以简述，并与当前台湾社会成人教育发展脉络相互链接。

Critical consciousness, conscientization, or conscientização (Portuguese), is a popular education and social concept developed by Brazilian pedagogue and educational theorist Paulo Freire, grounded in post-Marxist critical theory. Critical consciousness focuses on achieving an in-depth understanding of the world, allowing for the perception and exposure of social and political contradictions. Critical consciousness also includes taking action against the oppressive elements in one's life that are illuminated by that understanding.