Philosophy is vital to the study of education, and a sound knowledge of different philosophical perspectives leads to a deeper engagement with the choices and commitments you make within your educational practice. This introductory text provides a core understanding of often difficult philosophical concepts. By introducing key thinkers in the context of wider themes and frameworks, it creates meaningful connections between theories and links them to different aspects of, and perspectives on, education. Accessibly written, Education and Philosophy carefully analyses the common assumptions and conflicted history of education, provoking questioning about its nature and purposes. Thinking critically about education in this way will give students on undergraduate Education Studies degrees, initial teacher education and Masters-level courses a fuller command of their own role and practice.

Philosophical Schools

Philosophical Schools

Marginal philosophy

As we have suggested, the philosophy of education does not loom large in the thinking of those who practise education or those who make decisions about the structuring of education systems. A distinguished philosopher of education of our acquaintance put the matter in the following way. Teachers in schools and colleges think that the philosophy of education is ivory-tower theorising that is disconnected from classroom realities; policy-makers think that it is too abstract and that it is incapable of producing constructive, practical solutions to educational problems; ‘real’ philosophers regard the philosophy of education with contempt as a career niche for those whose philosophical formation has not equipped them to contribute to ‘real’ philosophy; and philosophers of education cannot manage agreement ...

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