Philosophy of Education

The aims for this module are set into the context of the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and they relate to the SEEC level descriptors for level 4 study.

This module provides an introduction to the philosophy of education.

Through examination of key influential educational thinkers - and selected excerpts from their major texts - students will be introduced into philosophical thinking, reading and writing on education. The content of the module will support students in considering ways in which different philosophies have been given expression in various forms of education, and more specifically, the ways in which we perceive its nature, aims and relationship to society.

This module relates predominately, although not exclusively, to the course strand theories and discourses of education and learning (TDEL).

In relation to the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and the SEEC level descriptors for level 4 study, by the end of the module students should be able to: 

1. describe a range of views on the nature and aims of education;
2. analyse and evaluate the relationship between education and society, from a variety of selected philosophical perspectives;
3. reflect on their own understanding of the nature and aims of education, in light of their learning.

This will include:

Philosophical reading, discussion and debate around core questions such as:

• What is the philosophy of education?
• What is its object of investigation?
• What purposes does it bring to its investigations?
• What do we mean by the term ‘education’ or ‘to be educated’?
• What is the nature of education?
• What are the aims, values and objectives of ‘education’?
• What is the relationship between education and society?

Introduction to key thinkers, with selected extracts readings from their key texts including:

• Plato: Republic and The Laws;
• Locke: Of the Conduct of the Understanding (1706);
• Rousseau: Emile (1762);
• Dewey: Democracy and Education (1916);
• Friere: Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1968).

Peer/group learning:

Tutor-led seminars, group work, engaging in reading groups, student presentations and preparing for the module assessment.

Independent learning:

Reading, thinking, reflecting, preparing for assignment and writing a reflective learning journal

Books:

Bailey, R.  (2010)  The SAGE handbook of philosophy of education, London: SAGE

Barrow, R. & Woods, R.  (2006)  An introduction to philosophy of education, London: Routledge

Blake, N.  (2003)  The Blackwell guide to the philosophy of education, Oxford: Blackwell

Cahn, S. M.  (2009)  Exploring philosophy: an introductory anthology, New York: Oxford University Press

Cahn, S. M.  (2009)  Philosophy of education: the essential texts, London: Routledge

Carr, D.  (2003)  Introduction to the philosophy and theory of education and teaching, London: RoutledgeFalmer

Carr, W.  (2005)  The RoutledgeFalmer reader in philosophy of education, Abingdon Routledge

Curren, R.  (2007)  Philosophy of education: an anthology, Oxford: Blackwell

Curren, R.  (2005)  A companion to the philosophy of education, Oxford: Blackwell

Mason, M.  (2008)  Complexity theory and the philosophy of education, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell

Winch, C. & Gingell, J.  (1999)  Key concepts in the philosophy of education, London: Routledge

Various  (2010)  The Routledge International Library of the Philosophy of Education, 24-Volume Set

Electronic Sources:  (All accessed July 2010)

Emile: www.ilt.columbia.edu/pedagogies/rousseau/Contents2.html

Pedagogy of the Oppressed:
www.marxists.org/subject/education/freire/pedagogy/index.htm

The Laws: http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/laws.html

The Philosophers Magazine (TMP): www.philosophersnet.com/

The Republic: http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html

Journals:

British Journal of Educational Studies

Cambridge Journal of Education

Educational Philosophy and Theory

Journal of philosophy of education

Philosophy of education

Other:

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