Is there a Scottish philosophy of education?
Author(s):
James MacAllister (presenting / submitting)
Conference:
ECER 2015
Network:
13. Philosophy of Education - Long Paper
Format:
Paper

Session Information

13 SES 09 A, Kinds of Philosphy of Education and Ontology

Paper Session

Time:
2015-09-10
11:00-12:30
Room:
336. [Main]
Chair:
Sharon Todd

Contribution

 

In this paper I consider whether or not there is a Scottish philosophy of education. I explore the views of Davie, MacIntyre and Graham all of whom suggest that ‘Scottish philosophy’ has been central to the education of professionals at universities in Scotland in the past, with this philosophical education in turn informing wider public debate. Their arguments imply that if there is a Scottish philosophy, it is more than anything a philosophy of education. I thereafter relate this 'Scottish' philosophy of education with other philosophies of education that have emerged in Scotland and elsewhere so as to gauge how distinctive any Scottish philosophy of education might actually be.

Method

I employed the method of philosophical analysis and synthesis

Expected Outcomes

I claim that while there is not a single Scottish philosophy of education, there are Scottish philosophies of education, animated by three main beliefs. First, that education should further conditions of intellectual democracy by supporting students to question social orders and develop the capacities necessary to engage in informed public debate. Second, that in depth study of different traditions of thought can help further conditions of intellectual democracy. Third, persons can only learn to think well and act morally in relation with other persons and where recognition is given to the necessarily embodied and relational nature of human being and knowing. I conclude by observing that the question of whether Scotland has a distinctive philosophy of education is important precisely because Scottish philosophical thought on education cannot be readily equated with other prominent Anglo-American and continental philosophies of education.

References

Blake (et al 2003) The Blackwell Guide to the Philosophy of Education, Ed. By Blake N, Smeyers P, Smith R & Standish P, (Oxford, Blackwell Publishing) Broadie A (2009) A History of Scottish Philosophy, (Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press) Buber M (2013) I and Thou, (London, Bloomsbury) Davie G (1991) The Scottish Enlightenment and other essays (Edinburgh: Polygon) Davie G (2013) The Democratic Intellect: Scotland and her Universities in the nineteenth century, (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press) Graham G (2003) The Nineteenth Century Aftermath, in: The Cambridge Companion to the Scottish Enlightenment, ed. Broadie A (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press) MacIntyre A (1987) The Idea of an Educated Public, pp 15-36 in Education and Values: The Richard Peters Lectures, ed. By Haydon G, (London: Institute of Education) Paterson L (2003) Scottish Education in the twentieth century, (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press)

Author Information

James MacAllister (presenting / submitting)
The University of Stirling
Education
Stirling

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