Philosophy of Education

ED20P: Second Semester 2002/3

Aims

The phrase ‘philosophy of …’ is used where the intention is to provide explicit and systematic accounts of the fundamental ideas and approaches used in a particular discipline, and to construct philosophically illuminating analyses or explications of central theoretical concepts invoked in that field. In philosophy of education, one also attempts to examine the various ways in which philosophical assumptions appear in, affect, and illuminate education.

Objectives

In this course, the objective is to introduce students to some notions, from general philosophy and the philosophies of mind and psychology in particular, that are relevant to educational concerns. An important aspect of the course is to encourage students to apply the course content to their own educational settings and issues.

Content

Education, and its philosophy, embraces a vast amount so we have to be highly selective in the choice of issues. We shall begin by looking at some issues connected with education and teaching and then examine a number of psychological topics that are central to what education and schooling aspires to treat, issues such as capacities and dispositions, concepts and concept-formation, intelligence, thinking, emotion, motivation, imagination, and creativity. In dealing with these issues we shall be looking in two main directions: one towards general philosophy, the other towards relevance for classroom interaction.

Weekly Teaching Arrangement

Two hours Lecture: Monday 5-6 (LR3) ; Thursday 3-4 (TSR5)

One hour Seminar Monday 4-5 (LR3)

Method of Assessment

One Essay (c. 2500 words) 30%

Seminar presentation 10%

One Final Written Examination 60%

Essay Deadline Monday, 7 April 2003

Reserved Texts

Hamm, C. Philosophical Issues in Education (Falmer Press, 1989)

Winch, C. The Philosophy of Human Learning (Routledge, 1998)

(Extracts in photocopy collection)

Kenny, A. The Metaphysics of Mind (Oxford University Press, 1992)

This page is

You are welcome to suggest a topic of your own that you would like to work on, BUT you must clear it with me first.  If you want to do one of mine, they are:

1. What might the ‘development of mind’ be?
2. Is learning how to forge a driving licence educationally valuable?
3. If you do not understand what this course is about, whose fault is it?
4. Is it possible to educate the emotions?
5. Does knowing the "definition" of ‘X’ do anything to show that a person grasps the concept X?
6. Can general thinking skills be taught?
7. Is developing the imagination the same as promoting creativity?

Lecture Programme

Week 1 Philosophy of Education: Its Territory and Topics

Hamm, C. Philosophical Issues in Education (Falmer Press, 1989) Chapters 1-3

Winch, C. The Philosophy of Human Learning (Routledge, 1998) Chapter 7

Week 3 Teaching

Weeks 4-5 Learning, Concepts and Concept-Formation

Week 6 Abilities and Dispositions

Week 7 Intelligence

Week 8 Thinking, critical thinking, indoctrination

Week 9 Emotions

Week 10 Human Actions and their Motives (Needs and Interests)

Week 11 Imagination and Creativity

Week 12 Education and "identity"

Seminar Readings

Week 4 Educated women? (3 Feb)

J.R. Martin and others, Women and Education à la Peters, in photocopy file

Nicole Parris

Week 5 Who is responsible for learning? (10 Feb)

W.V. Muse, ‘Who is responsible for learning in our society?’

Corileus Barrow

OMIT Week 5 Concepts and Concept-Formation

Hamlyn, D., ‘The Logical and Psychological Aspects of Learning’

Hamlyn, D., ‘Human Learning’

Week 6 Abilities and Dispositions (17 Feb)

Passmore, J., ‘Developing Capacities’ and ‘Cultivating Habits’

Felicia Standford

Week 7 Intelligence (24 Feb)

Herrnstein, R. et al., ‘Symposium: Can Intelligence Be Improved?’

Donna Browne

Reid Sherman

Week 8 Thinking (3 March)

Lipman, M., ‘The Reflective Model of Educational Practice’ & ‘Learning the Craft of Thinking’

Bailin, S., ‘Education, Knowledge and Critical Thinking’

Neville Reid

Week 9 Emotions (10 March)

Oakley, J., ‘The Nature of Emotion’

Warnock, M., ‘The Education of the Emotions’

Ken Walton

Week 10 Human Actions and their Motives (24 March)

Peters, R., ‘Motivation and Education’

Jean Richards

Joy Morris

Passmore, J., ‘Cultivating Imagination’

Reynold Drakes

Lasonja Watson

OMIT Week 12

Week 13 Identity (14 April)

Brandon, E.P., ‘Creolisation, syncretism, and multiculturalism’

Stanley Griffin