Philosophy of Education - Paperback

by Randall Curren (Editor)

Philosophy of Education: An Anthology brings together the essential historical and contemporary readings in the philosophy of education.

• The readings have been selected for their philosophical merit, their focus on important aspects of educational practice and their readability.
  
• Includes classic pieces by Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, and Dewey.
  
• Addresses topical issues such as teacher professionalism and accountability, the commercialization of schooling, multicultural education, and parental choice.

Back Jacket

"Philosophy of Education: An Anthology is a major contribution to philosophy of education. There are now quite a few large volumes on the subject. All have their virtues, but none of them lend themselves easily to introductory and mid-level courses in philosophy of education. This new anthology, edited with wisdom, judgment and deep knowledge of the field by Randall Curren, is perfect for this purpose. In virtue of its excellent content, range, accessibility, and flexibility, it will quickly become the standard anthology for the field." Harvey Siegel, University of Miami

This volume provides the most comprehensive and systematic collection of essential writings on the philosophy of education. Offering a balanced treatment of the fundamental questions and philosophical issues regarding the nature and aims of education, as well as the central debates in current educational policy, this book explores topics such as teacher professionalism and accountability, the commercialization of schooling, multicultural education, parental choice, educational equality and disabilities, and curricular controversies.

Selected for their focus on important issues of educational practice as well as their philosophical merit and readability, the readings include seminal selections from Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, and Dewey, as well as numerous contemporary writings. The five major sections of the text correspond to the five basic normative dimensions of educational practice: its nature and aims, the authority it rests on, its responsibilities, the manner in which it is conducted, and the content that is communicated or learned. This innovative framework gives the collection its comprehensive scope, while keeping the focus on the fundamental philosophical issues of educational practice and policy.

Author Biography

RANDALL CURREN is Professor and Chair of Philosophy and Professor of Education at the University of Rochester, NY, and has held research professorships at the University of Birmingham and the Royal Institute of Philosophy in the UK. He is the author of 120 publications in philosophy of education and related areas of philosophy, and is a recent past editor of the journal Theory and Research in Education.