The foundation upon which this discussion is based is the basic nature of democracy as both a political and moral ideal. Democracy can be understood as a system of rights premised upon the logic of equality. At its core is a fundamental belief in moral equality, a belief that all human beings possess an equal inherent dignity or worth. The ideal…

Social work, like other professions, finds itself influenced by postmodernism and hypertechnology. Social work educators are striving to adapt in the face of rapidity of knowledge expansion and of technological advancement, which impact the nature of pedagogy. Recent emphases on effectiveness and efficiency of technological innovations are…

In this article I consider contemporary philosophical conceptions of human nature from the point of view of the ideal of gender equality. My main argument is that an essentialist account of human nature, unlike what I take to be its two main alternatives (the subjectivist account and the cultural account), is able coherently to justify the…

Argues that the humanism movement is imperiled by ill definition, misunderstanding, and resistance. The author redefines it and calls for "real" humanists to advance the cause. (Author)

This paper discusses the problem of the value of the individual child, particularly the handicapped child who will never be able to compensate society for the resources devoted to caring for and teaching him/her. Attention is first given to secular arguments on human value, then to observations drawn from Christianity. (Author/SJL)

Although the concept of human potential accurately reflects central features of human nature, its current use perpetuates traditional myths of fixity, harmony, and value, calculated to cause untold mischief in social and educational practice. This book aims to demythologize the concept of potential. It shows its roots in genuine aspects of human…

In order that English teachers may be important to themselves, important as teachers, and, through their behaviors, important to their community and to society, they must accept the challenge of being humanists. Ten characteristics describe humanists: (1) they revere life in all forms; (2) they have profound respect for the human mind and its…

Authors believe that the function of education should be the practice of freedom, and also that for this to become reality it is imperative that the cornerstone of such a conception of education be the original datum of education, the individual human being. (Authors/GB)

The humanities are described as the custodians of the human image. Today's humanities have burdens which are social and conceptual. Higher education training in critical thinking works against the image of man, which keeps civilization vital. (JN)

Reflects on the impact of the broad values that motivated Mina Shaughnessy's work and life. Characterizes three of her beliefs--that teaching makes a difference, that the individual is important, and that literacy is power--and expands on their importance. (RL)

The importance of Wilhelm von Humboldt's work in educational philosophy is little known outside of Germany and even there he is more often criticized than praised. This is unfortunate because his contributions to education and other areas had an important impact on other philosophers of his period and are well worth considering today. In his main…

Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that seeks answers to two main questions: How do we know? and How do we know we know? This paper is concerned with how four major schools of thought have addressed these questions and the implications that their answers to these questions have for education. The paper begins by discussing how four major…

This is the first in a two volume set (see also SE 013 664) which displays what the people at the Earth Science Teacher Preparation Project (ESTPP) value about learning, learners, themselves, and their role in helping learners. It records, mainly in their own words, how some people in colleges and secondary schools feel about education and how…

States the opinion that, even with extensive biological knowledge of man, there are many features concerning human interactions which cannot be explained. (CP)