Some Antecedents of Educational Philosophy in Britain with Particular Reference to Social Science

It would be convenient to pretend that the histories of educational philosophy in Britain and, by extension, the USA and Australia, were responses to a common social and intellectual history but convenience in this case could only be accomplished at the expense of explanatory power. The history of educational philosophy in these three places is parallel but not in common. Philosophy of education in Britain is more closely related to philosophy than is philosophy of education in the USA. Philosophy of education in the USA appropriated the lead of the American Social Science Association and initially retained closer connections with social science than did its English counterpart. Nevertheless, it is argued here that educational philosophy's reference to social science—Victorian and modern—is the missing explanatory element in modem histories of the discipline. The appropriation of education by social science—a common feature of the intellectual history of education in Britain, Australasia, and the USA—leavened the research agenda of educational philosophy in Britain. Peters’ educational work can be best understood as an attempt to reunite education with moral philosophy such that the study of education would resume a profile similar to its nineteenth‐century counterpart, when it was moral philosophy that provided the most interesting discussions of human nature, primitive customs, and social institutions—education among them.     

Reforming Science Education: Part II. Utilizing Kieran Egan’s Educational Metatheory

This paper is the second of two parts and continues the conversation which had called for a shift in the conceptual focus of science education towards philosophy of education, with the requirement to develop a discipline-specific “philosophy” of science education. In Part I, conflicting conceptions of science literacy were identified with disparate “visions” tied to competing research programs as well as school-based curricular paradigms. The impasse in the goals of science education and thereto, the contending views of science literacy, were themselves associated with three underlying fundamental aims of education (knowledge-itself; personal development; socialization) which, it was argued, usually undercut the potential of each other. During periods of “crisis-talk” and throughout science educational history these three aims have repeatedly attempted to assert themselves. The inability of science education research to affect long-term change in classrooms was correlated not only to the failure to reach a consensus on the aims (due to competing programs and to the educational ideologies of their social groups), but especially to the failure of developing true educational theories (largely neglected since Hirst). Such theories, especially metatheories, could serve to reinforce science education’s growing sense of academic autonomy and independence from socio-economic demands. In Part II, I offer as a suggestion Egan’s cultural-linguistic theory as a metatheory to help resolve the impasse. I hope to make reformers familiar with his important ideas in general, and more specifically, to show how they can complement HPS rationales and reinforce the work of those researchers who have emphasized the value of narrative in learning science.     

对作为形而上学哲学特质的再反思

在我国，自改革开放以来，随着市场经济的全面推行，人文社会科学的意义和价值日益受到置疑，作为人文学科的哲学社会科学的生存状况日益窘迫，这不得不引起我们对哲学本身存在意义和价值的思考。反思哲学的基本特质，我们不难得出：哲学最基本的含义仍然是古希腊意义上的“爱智”（philo-sophia），形而上学性、反思性（批判性）和实践性是哲学的三个最基本的特质，这决定了哲学的“非功利”和“非实用”的独特品格。准确定位哲学的性质和功能，有助于我们在市场经济条件下重拾哲学的地位和尊严，避免对哲学产生一些不应有的误解，从而为振兴哲学、繁荣哲学社会科学、使之成为一门真正有助于人及其发展的学问扫清障碍。     

Competition in Physical Education: Avoid,Ask, Adapt or Accept?

Competition is an essential part of youth sport. But should it also be part of the curriculum in physical education? Or are competitive activities incompatible with the educational context? While some researchers have argued that physical education should embrace the sporting logic of competition, others have criticized the negative experiences it can create for some students in school. In this article, we draw on insights from the philosophy of sport as well as educational philosophy, with the aim of questioning and critically examining the integration of competitive activities in physical education. We present and discuss four normative arguments (AVOID, ASK, ADAPT, and ACCEPT) that can each in their own way inform and guide future talks on the topic.     

教育研究与科学研究——兼论研究生论文指导

教育科学属于社会科学,社会科学与自然科学一样是科学,由此实验科学的实证、假设可以成为教育研究的重要方法,科学哲学的融通、革新观念应当成为教育理论建设重要理念,科学家品性也必须成为教育研究者基本素质。目前需要从研究生阶段理解科学研究,提高科学素质。     

Education(al) Research,Educational Policy‐Making and Practice

Professor Whitty has endorsed the consensus that research into education is empirical social science, distinguishing ‘educational research’ which seeks directly to influence practice, and ‘education research’ that has substantive value but no necessary practical application. The status of the science here is problematic. The positivist approach is incoherent and so supports neither option. Critical educational science is virtually policy‐inert. The interpretive approach is empirically sound but, because of the value component in education, does not support education research either, or account for this component. A solution to the latter problem is sought in the debate between Carr and Hirst on the relationship between philosophy and education. This shows Carr making claims that rely on a conception of philosophy that he rejects, while Hirst insists on this conception, uses it to justify practical claims, but denies that this is possible. To achieve a practically relevant analysis of educational research, both need to include second‐order, normative, conceptual enquiry into the philosophies that drive educational policy‐making and partly regulate teaching methodology. Deweyan, first‐order, ‘reflective practice’ needs, then, to be supplemented with second‐order reflection. Educational research is philosophy‐ not science‐driven, and is value‐led. Consequently, it has the status not of scientific discovery but of practical recommendation.     

杜威的教育目的观之再思考

杜威将实用主义哲学与美国教育实际相结合提出了"教育无目的论",这一观点有其深刻的社会背景和哲学及社会思想渊源,它批判了儿童本位论、社会本位论等教育目的观。杜威并不是否认教育目的的存在,而是反对强制性的外在目的。杜威的教育目的观有很多积极的现代价值值得我们去思考。     

试论教育的科学技术原理

当前教育原理主要从哲学层次,以思辨方法进行构建。鉴于教育的信息化发展,文章与时俱进地提出了教育的科学技术原理,即教育原理是教育哲学、教育情意、教学科学、教育技术、教育工程、教育实践各层次原理的统一,又以教育科学技术层次及其控制信息系统子层次为主导,期望为教育原理研究提供一些借鉴。     

试论教育研究的科学技术原理

当前教育研究主要从创新性、系统性、控制性等特征进行分析。鉴于教育的信息化发展,文章与时俱进地提出了教育研究的科学技术原理,即,教育研究原理是教育哲学、教育情意、教学科学、教育技术、教育工程、教育实践各层次原理的统一,又以教育科学与技术层次及其控制信息系统子层次原理为主导。基于该教育研究原理,文章还提出并讨论了教育研究系统,期望为教育研究的研究提供一些借鉴。     

Iran’s implicit philosophy of education*

Abstract

This paper aims to extract Iran’s philosophy of education from two sources of the constitution and the course of practice in educational institutions. Regarding the first source, it is argued that parallel to the two main threads of the constitution, Iran’s main elements of philosophy of education are expected to be derived from; (1) Islam and (2) democracy. The challenge in front of this feature of Iran’s implicit philosophy of education refers to the seemingly contradictory relation between the two components of Islam and democracy. It is argued that the hard contrast being held between religion and liberal democracy is not defensible and that there could be compatibilities between the two. As for the second source, it is shown that there are concerns about the main trends that underpin Iranian educational institutions. One trend is that the religious education in Iran is at the threat of becoming dogmatic and being overwhelmed by indoctrination. The second trend, referring to the minorities’ education, shows a further challenge regarding recognition of minorities’ right to education. Finally, the third trend is related to the embrace of neoliberalism in Iranian educational endeavors. It is argued that this trend provides a tension in the overall corpus of the country’s philosophy of education.     

Stichwort: Familie, Peers und (informelle) Bildung im Kindes- und Jugendalter

The importance of non-school educational stimuli which arise in “normal” everyday life (mainly through experience and “learning from life”) and the contribution of such stimuli to the educational development of young people are often underestimated. The educational value of the widely differing casual educational structures in family and peer relationships is often not fully appreciated in educational research until such structures are combined with formal school education. So far, researchers have only just begun to explore the value of informal education and to venture beyond the “traditional” limitation of empirical educational research in Germany to formal, institutionally organised education and competence acquisition processes for pupils. In recent years, attention has not only been directed towards the family as an independent place of education—studies have also focused on real life informal interaction situations in peer relationships and their importance as significant educational factors in the context of unsupervised child daytime activities. The researchers tend to regard the family as a “different type of educational sphere” and peer relationships as social interactions between equals with considerable educational potential, involving social and cultural exchange processes which constitute “everyday education” and which differ in their effects depending on the milieu. In view of the enormous differences in the way in which children and young people are integrated into family and peer-based everyday situations, it is important to point out the high educational significance of family and peer relationships for informal education, and this must always be analysed in relation to the social milieu of the family of origin and the type of school attended by the young people. The existing research initiatives and results are discussed here in relation to various research questions. The varied considerations in relation to the significance and impact of peer relationships and the existing approaches adopted in research serve as a starting point for further suggestions for future research, and these desirable new directions in research are then discussed from a theoretical and methodological perspective.     

中国教育哲学的世纪回顾与展望

20世纪的中国教育哲学 ,以学习杜威教育哲学思想为初始 ,后又有马克思主义教育思想的传播 ,初步建立了教育哲学学科体系。新中国成立后 ,尤其是 2 0世纪80年代以来 ,在马克思主义指导下 ,教育哲学的学科体系更加完善和发展 ,在挖掘民族的教育哲学思想历史的同时 ,又关注西方教育哲学的发展。未来教育哲学的发展趋势是 :向具体研究领域深入 ;加强研究的国际化 ;进一步发挥教育哲学的批判功能和理想引导功能     

Habermas, Carr and the Possibility of a Science of Education

A recent attempt to answer questions on the scientific status of education draws on the thoughts of Jürgen Habermas. There is a tension in Habermas's work because he consigns scientific endeavour to the realm of instrumental action, while attempting to base his theory of communication on scientific results. This suggests that either his theory is wrong and science is not merely instrumental, or that his recent proposals mistake manipulation for understanding. This proposition is considered by examining the work of Wilfred Carr, who has taken up the ideas of Habermas. Carr interprets and develops Habermas's theory within an analytical framework, situating it in relation to recent developments in the philosophy of education and philosophy more generally, bringing new light on the relationship between critical theory and education, and overcoming certain limitations of previous scientific characterisations. However, it is argued here that Habermas's idea of science is too abstract to provide a sufficiently complex grounding for substantive, socially liberating, educational practise.     

Voluntary responsible bodies in English adult Education

Abstract

The paper examines the future prospects for educational research as conducted in UK universities and colleges of higher education in the light of current general changes in the organisation, funding and culture of higher education, and in respect of specific changes in the initial and in service training of teachers. It includes a critical examination of the claim made by some educational researchers that their research constitutes a special case, differentiated from other social science and humanities disciplines, both by the routes into educational research and the concerns of those who practise it. It is suggested that the special case argument for the alleged distinctiveness of educational research is largely unjustified, and does not contribute positively to the future prospects of that research or kelp to ease the relative isolation of educational researchers. Alliances between educational researchers, and those researching in the social sciences are advocated as one strategy which will help both partners. It is also suggested that educational researchers should try to ensure that novel and existing modes of training new researchers such as doctoral programmes, make connections with the training of other beginning researchers, rather than dividing would‐be educational researchers from their counterparts in other disciplinary or interdisciplinary areas.     

论毕达哥拉斯学派的教育思想

毕达哥拉斯盟会是一个兼有政治性、宗教性、学术性和教育性的组织。其教育思想建立在哲学和科学理论基础上。其教育目的是培养能建立和指导完美社会秩序的人，以及遵循良好秩序的社会公民。毕达哥拉斯学派的教育内容是把数学放在最高的地位，同时注重音乐、天文、体育等和谐教育。毕达哥拉斯学派的教育思想推动了后世人们对崇高精神生活的追求；它是哲学史和教育史上的一大进步；它推动了哲学、科学和音乐教育思想的发展；但它关于灵魂不朽和灵魂轮回说对后世哲学、教育有着消极影响。     

Feyerabend revisited: Epistemological anarchy and disciplined eclecticism in educational research

Discussion between the adherents of various orientations within educational research has often generated more heat than light. A pervasive analogy drawn in these discussions has been between the philosophy of science and educational research. In this paper I explore the value of several influential perspectives within twentieth century philosophy of science as means of understanding what researchers in education do, and why. I suggest that Paul Feyerabend’s ‘anything goes’ epistemological perspective has much to offer in supporting rich educational research. If positivist standards of validity and reliability are no longer considered appropriate for some forms of educational research, however, new standards for justification and representation, explicitly stated within the research, will be necessary.     

Interdisciplinarity and Systems Thinking: some implications for engineering education and education for industry

AS developments in science and technology accelerate the processes of social change, it becomes necessary to redefine educational objectives in engineering education. This paper examines some of the reasons for dissatisfaction with the limitations of single-discipline approaches to education, analysing these from a systems perspective. The paper considers the development of systems thinking in relation to engineering and raises some of the implications of systems thinking and systems methodologies for the planning of an interdisciplinary course. Finally, it refers to the course in technology and management at the University of Bradford, which is unified by a systemic philosophy and methodology, and considers the value added by such an approach, in human terms.     

'What it Makes Sense to Say': Education, Philosophy and Peter Winch on Social Science

This paper sets out Peter Winch's central ideas about the nature of the social sciences, and reappraises their potential for educational research. It is argued that the dichotomy between 'reasons' and 'causes' has done much harm, and that the important matter of understanding 'what is real for us' has recently been neglected. Winch's philosophy suggests a more adequate framework for educational research: one that embraces a pluralistic interpretive position, accommodating various methods and various kinds of understanding of the social, and that views educational science as involving opportunity for reflection and a degree of distance from the world of practice, yet at the same time as essentially part of the political debate about education.     

Feyerabend revisited: Epistemological anarchy and disciplined eclecticism in educational research

Discussion between the adherents of various orientations within educational research has often generated more heat than light. A pervasive analogy drawn in these discussions has been between the philosophy of science and educational research. In this paper I explore the value of several influential perspectives within twentieth century philosophy of science as means of understanding what researchers in education do, and why. I suggest that Paul Feyerabend’s ‘anything goes’ epistemological perspective has much to offer in supporting rich educational research. If positivist standards of validity and reliability are no longer considered appropriate for some forms of educational research, however, new standards for justification and representation, explicitly stated within the research, will be necessary.     

“为己之学”与“为人之学”之思考

《论语》是儒家最重要的经典著作,其内容涉及先秦时期的宗教哲学、政治历史、文学教育、生活方式等等各个方面,甚是丰富。就教育来说,《论语》谈的也是很全面的,提到有关＂学＂的字眼就有40多处,体现的教育思想及其教育原则一直泽被后世。＂为己之学＂与＂为人之学＂主要是从教育目的这个方面进行深入探讨,发觉古人在学习的内容、心态、方式方法及其最终目标上与现代人差异甚大。古人那种超越功利而又直指内心,为着完善自我人格的纯正的＂学＂,与我们现代人讲效益、求快捷、重物质的＂学＂可谓是大相径庭。