The Philosophy of Education: An Introduction

This textbook seeks to explore the purpose and values of the philosophy of education, and specific issues of contemporary relevance. Unlike many other texts on the subject, "The Philosophy of Education: An Introduction" is fundamentally about the activity of philosophizing and not about (mostly long-dead) philosophers. With this goal in mind, contributors have been selected who are capable of bringing the Philosophy of Education to life for the reader. All are respected as philosophers in their own right, and they write in an accessible and engaging manner. The chapters are not position statements that express one viewpoint at the expense of others; rather, they provide an overview of a topic, including reference to central concepts and discussion of major debates. Each chapter: explains and summarises the main concepts and discussions in a particular area of debate; includes extracts from philosophical writing, followed by questions that guide the reader to engage critically and actively with the text; refers, where appropriate, to current events or topics; and, ends with a bibliographic section that guides the reader towards further reading, and suggests next steps and more challenging sources, or counter-pointed arguments. "The Philosophy of Education: An Introduction" is primarily for students studying education studies and teacher education. It will also appeal to practising teachers who wish to engage with philosophical approaches to contemporary educational issues, and to educationalists who are looking for a succinct guide to philosophical perspectives on educational theory and practice.