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Journal of philosophy of education

Publication date: 1995-11-01
Volume: 29 Pages: 401 - 413
Publisher: Blackwell publ ltd

Author:

Smeyers, Paul

Keywords:

Social Sciences, Education & Educational Research, History Of Social Sciences, Social Sciences - Other Topics, 1303 Specialist Studies in Education, 2202 History and Philosophy of Specific Fields, Philosophy, 3902 Education policy, sociology and philosophy, 5003 Philosophy

Abstract:

The paper continues the earlier Education and the Educational Project I: the atmosphere of postmodernism.(1) Following the later Wittgenstein a different view of human action, emphasising the educator's intention, is argued for. A conception of education as the ongoing discussion of mankind is outlined and, drawing on Frankfurt's view of the importance of what we care about, the idea of an educational project is re-conceived. It is concluded that neither parents nor teachers can do without this idea, but that it cannot be thought of as determining deductively and exhaustively all practical decisions concerning educational matters. Postmodernism therefore seems to be only nearly right about education.