Search

“All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone,” Blaise Pascal wrote in 1654. But then there's Walt Whitman, in 1856: “Whoever you are, come forth! Or man or woman come forth! / You must not stay sleeping and dallying there in the house.” It is truly an ancient debate: Is it better to be active or contemplative? To do or to think? To make an impact, or to understand the world more deeply? Aristotle argued for contemplation as the highest state of human flourishing. But it was through action that his student Alexander the Great conquered the known world. Which should we aim at? Centuries later, this argument underlies a surprising number of the questions we face in contemporary life. Should students study the humanities, or train for a job? Should adults work for money or for meaning? And in tumultuous times, should any of us sit on the sidelines, pondering great books, or throw ourselves into protests and petition drives? With Action versus Contemplation, Jennifer Summit and Blakey Vermeule address the question in a refreshingly unexpected way: by refusing to take sides. Rather, they argue for a rethinking of the very opposition. The active and the contemplative can—and should—be vibrantly alive in each of us, fused rather than sundered. Writing in a personable, accessible style, Summit and Vermeule guide readers through the long history of this debate from Plato to Pixar, drawing compelling connections to the questions and problems of today. Rather than playing one against the other, they argue, we can discover how the two can nourish, invigorate, and give meaning to each other, as they have for the many writers, artists, and thinkers, past and present, whose examples give the book its rich, lively texture of interplay and reference. This is not a self-help book. It won't give you instructions on how to live your life. Instead, it will do something better: it will remind you of the richness of a life that embraces action and contemplation, company and solitude, living in the moment and planning for the future. Which is better? Readers of this book will discover the answer: both.

'The Wisdom of Life'is one of Arthur Schopenhauer's works, originally published in 1851 as part of his collection'Parerga and Paralipomena.'In this work, Schopenhauer presents a series of aphorisms and brief reflections on achieving a wiser and more satisfying life. He discusses topics such as the pursuit of happiness, the nature of human suffering, the importance of self-understanding, and the art of living wisely in the face of life's adversities. Schopenhauer's aphorisms in'Aphorisms for the Wisdom of Life'reflect his philosophical outlook, deeply influenced by metaphysical pessimism. He argues that the world is fundamentally a place of pain and frustration but suggests that through understanding our own desires and limitations, we can find a path to resignation and contentment. This work is considered a practical and accessible exploration of his broader philosophical ideas, aimed not only at scholars but also at the general public interested in existential and ethical issues.

The'Collected Works of John Dewey'is a comprehensive anthology that encapsulates the vast intellectual contributions of one of America's foremost philosophers and educational reformers. This compilation spans Dewey's prolific career, exploring themes such as pragmatism, experiential learning, and democratic citizenship. Dewey's literary style is marked by clarity and accessibility, weaving complex philosophical ideas into practical applications. The collection is indispensable for understanding the evolution of American thought in the early 20th century, particularly in relation to education, ethics, and social philosophy. John Dewey (1859-1952) reshaped the landscape of education and philosophy, influenced by his relentless pursuit of progressive ideas. His experiences in the classroom, coupled with active engagement in social issues, propelled his belief in education as a dynamic, participatory process. Influenced by contemporaries like William James and Charles Sanders Peirce, Dewey's pragmatism reflects a deep commitment to addressing real-world problems and nurturing democratic values, thus providing rich context for the works included in this collection. For scholars, educators, and students alike, the'Collected Works of John Dewey'serves as an essential resource that not only highlights his profound insights but also invites readers to engage critically with the ideals of democracy and progressive education. This anthology is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the interplay of philosophy and education in shaping modern societal values.

In Life-Practice Educology: A Contemporary Chinese Theory of Education Ye Lan presents the theory of a contemporary Chinese school of Educology. It consists of two main parts. The first part proposes a fully formulated view on Life-Practice School of Educology and expounds on current thinking in China that denies the independence of educology as a discipline. The second part explains both inherited and new understandings of the Life-Practice School of Educology, covering Chinese traditional culture and the current debate. It further refines the Chinese understanding of Education (jiaoyu 教育) as teaching the knowledge of nature and society, and cultivating a self-conciousness towards life.

This edited collection is based on a series of articles written by Michael A Peters as Editor-in-Chief of Educational Philosophy and Theory to explore the concept of The Chinese Dream first introduced by President Xi in 2012. This seventh volume in the Editor's Choice series provides a philosophical and historical analysis of The Chinese Dream by analyzing its major intersecting narratives - liberal, Confucian and Marxist. With chapters covering higher education strategy, social governance, socialist rule of law, the US-China trade war, technological unemployment and the emergence of the Chinese techno-state, this volume also offers an introduction to Chinese philosophy and history, and its narrative re-crafting that presents China as a global power. The author calls this process and the emerging Chinese narratives'Educating the Future'.

Indigenous scholars have been gathering, speaking, and writing about Indigenous knowledge for decades. These knowledges are grounded in ancient traditions and very old pedagogies that have been woven with the tangled strings and chipped beads of colonial relations. Pathways for Remembering and Recognizing Indigenous Thought in Education is an exploration into some of the shared cross-cultural themes that inform and shape Indigenous thought and Indigenous educational philosophy. These philosophies generate tensions, challenges, and contradictions that can become very tangled and messy when considered within the context of current educational systems that reinforce colonial power relations. Sandra D. Styres shows how Indigenous thought can inform decolonizing approaches in education as well as the possibilities for truly transformative teaching practices. This book offers new pathways for remembering, conceptualizing and understanding these ancient knowledges and philosophies within a twenty-first century educational context.

This book features a unique collection of dialogues with fourteen notable scholars on their opinions and observations about John Dewey, a renowned educational philosopher of the twentieth century. The book explores varying views about John Dewey, his philosophy, and his educational theory. In revealing positive, sometimes negative, occasionally surprising, and consistently insightful viewpoints, the author seeks to enable the reader to reflect on the primary question: does John Dewey's consequential educational philosophy have an important role in twenty-first century education and in nurturing and sustaining democratic ideals?

Education's Epistemology extends and further defends Harvey Siegel's'reasons conception'of critical thinking. It analyzes and emphasizes both the epistemic quality, and the dispositions and character traits that constitute the'critical spirit,'that are central to a proper account of critical thinking; argues that that epistemic quality must be understood ultimately in terms of epistemic rationality; defends a conception of rationality that involves both rules and judgment; and argues that critical thinking has normative value over and above its instrumental tie to truth. Siegel also argues, contrary to currently popular multiculturalist thought, for both transcultural and universal philosophical ideals, including those of multiculturalism and critical thinking themselves.

The John Dewey Collection is a comprehensive anthology that encapsulates the philosophical breadth and educational theories of one of America's most influential thinkers. Featuring a curated selection of Dewey's writings, the collection provides insight into his pragmatic approach, emphasizing experiential learning and the importance of democracy in education. The stylistic nuances of Dewey's prose, characterized by clarity and a conversational tone, make complex ideas accessible, appealing to both scholars and lay readers alike. Positioned within the progressive education movement of the early 20th century, this collection sheds light on Dewey's radical ideas that challenged traditional pedagogical methods. John Dewey (1859-1952) was a pioneering philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer whose life experiences, including his engagement with the social issues of his time, deeply influenced his work. As a staunch advocate for democracy, he believed that education should not merely transmit knowledge but also cultivate critical thinking and participation in civic life. His collaborative endeavors in the establishment of laboratory schools and his writings reflect a commitment to fostering a society that values inquiry and innovation. This collection is highly recommended for educators, philosophers, and anyone intrigued by the intersections of education and democracy. It serves as both a foundational text for understanding Dewey's impact on educational theory and a timeless reminder of the critical role of experiential learning in personal and societal development.

No fight over what gets taught in American classrooms is more heated than the battle over humanity's origins. For more than a century we have argued about evolutionary theory and creationism (and its successor theory, intelligent design), yet we seem no closer to a resolution than we were in Darwin's day. In this thoughtful examination of how we teach origins, historian Adam Laats and philosopher Harvey Siegel offer crucial new ways to think not just about the evolution debate but how science and religion can make peace in the classroom. Laats and Siegel agree with most scientists: creationism is flawed, as science. But, they argue, students who believe it nevertheless need to be accommodated in public school science classes. Scientific or not, creationism maintains an important role in American history and culture as a point of religious dissent, a sustained form of protest that has weathered a century of broad—and often dramatic—social changes. At the same time, evolutionary theory has become a critical building block of modern knowledge. The key to accommodating both viewpoints, they show, is to disentangle belief from knowledge. A student does not need to believe in evolution in order to understand its tenets and evidence, and in this way can be fully literate in modern scientific thought and still maintain contrary religious or cultural views. Altogether, Laats and Siegel offer the kind of level-headed analysis that is crucial to finding a way out of our culture-war deadlock.

What is needed to be a “good” citizen for the twenty-first century? And how can schools and curricula address this question? This book addresses these questions and what it means to be a “good citizen” in the twenty-first century by exploring this concept in two different, but linked, countries. China is a major international power whose citizens are in the midst of a major social and economic transformation. Australia is transforming itself into an Asian entity in multiple ways and is influenced by its major trading partner—China. Yet both rely on their education systems to facilitate and guide this transformation as both countries search for “good” citizens. The book explores the issue of what it means to be a “good citizen” for the 21st century at the intersection between citizenship education and moral education. The issue of what constitutes a “good citizen” is problematic in many countries and how both countries address this issue is vitally important to understanding how societies can function effectively in an increasingly interconnected world. The book contends that citizenship education and moral education in both countries overlap on the task of how to educate for a “good citizen”. Three key questions are the focus of this book: 1. What is a “good citizen” in a globalizing world? 2. How can “good citizenship” be nurtured in schools? 3. What are the implications of the concept of “good citizen” in education, particularly the school curriculum? Murray Print (PhD) and Chuanbao Tan (PhD) are professors from the University of Sydney, Australia and Beijing Normal University, China respectively. Both are national leaders within their respective countries and they have brought together a group of leading Australian and Chinese citizenship educators to explore these key questions.

In the recent educational research literature, it has been asserted that ethnic or cultural groups have their own distinctive epistemologies, and that these have been given short shrift by the dominant social group. Educational research, then, is pursued within a framework that embodies assumptions about knowledge and knowledge production that reflect the interests and historical traditions of this dominant group. In such arguments, however, some relevant philosophical issues remain unresolved, such as what claims about culturally distinctive epistemologies mean, precisely, and how they relate to traditional epistemological distinctions between beliefs and knowledge. Furthermore, can these ways of establishing knowledge stand up to critical scrutiny? This volume marshals a variety of resources to pursue such open questions in a lively and accessible way: a critical literature review, analyses from philosophers of education who have different positions on the key issues, a roundtable discussion, and interactions between the two editors, who sometimes disagree. It also employs the work of prominent feminist epistemologists who have investigated parallel issues with sophistication. This volume does not settle the question of culturally distinctive epistemologies, but teases out the various philosophical, sociological and political aspects of the issue so that the debate can continue with greater clarity.

Terrorism, ethnocentrism, religious tension, competition over limited resources, war - these are just a few of the problems and challenges that have emerged in today's global economy. Globalization both implies and requires economic interdependence; and this should bring with it a heightened sense of the interconnectedness of the participating societies. But unfortunately, as recent events indicate, rather than our having formed a global community, today's society is more fragmented than ever. In light of this, education faces some formidable new challenges. How do we prepare future citizens for the world they will live in? How do we teach future generations to embrace the paradox of accepting the value of multiculturalism despite the conflicts it has produced? How do we instill religious tolerance in a time when fundamentalism has become inextricably tied with terrorism? How do we promote economic growth in the face of overpopulation and its depletion of resources? The authors of this collection of essays explore these and related challenges, and they suggest some novel ways of dealing with them.

What are the basic, underlying questions that inform education as a human enterprise? This work challenges scholars in education and related fields with its combination of original research and theory. It systematically identifies and examines underlying questions of education.

Since the 1960s we have witnessed the development of philosophy of education as a vital intellectual field. Beginning with the work of Israel Scheffler at Harvard, and spreading rapidly to the United Kingdom under the influence of R.S. Peters and Paul Hirst at the London Institute of Education, analytical philosophers of education worked toward a new understanding of such central educational concepts as teaching, learning, explanation, curriculum, aims and objectives, freedom and authority, equality and liberal education. They also examined theoretical issues in educational research and critiqued reigning ideas in educational psychology.By the 1970s interest in the analysis of educational concepts and research methods had waned. A new generation of philosophers of education turned to new issues, including: intellectual and practical virtues, individual well-being, the education of girls and women, the ethics of care, creative thinking and imagination, multicultural education, globalization and many others.In this book, 24 leading philosophers of education since 1970 who remain influential today present the fascinating stories of their lives and important new contributions to the field. They trace their early experiences, initial encounters with philosophy and philosophy of education, creative directions in their work, mature ideas, and perceptions of future directions for the field. Each chapter contains a list of works chosen by the authors as their personal favorites.