Philosophy, ideology and educational theory
This work is concerned with the nature and scope of ideology. It begins with an examination of the relationship between theory and practice in the relatively uncontentious area of education. An analysis of different kinds of educational theory reveals the nature of the most comprehensive form of such theorising to be problematic. It is argued that a solution to this problem depends upon the solution to the wider problem of the nature of political ideology, to which the discussion therefore shifts. Existing theories of political ideology being deemed inadequate, a fresh start is made by showing how this form of theory combines the descriptive and the evaluative in a particular way and with particular logical consequences. These consequences characterise ideology as a peculiar form of ethical understanding, involving a distinctive way of thinking and having a logical structure of its own. However, these characteristics which make ideology distinctive are not inherently political, and the possibility of there being several different forms of ideology is discussed. With these conclusions it becomes possible to return to the problem of comprehensive educational theory and show that it is composed of a number of
Adams, Ian S.
Philosophy of education
Philosophy, ideology and educational theory. This work is concerned with the nature and scope of ideology. It begins with an examination of the relationship between theory and practice in the relatively uncontentious area of education. An analysis of different kinds of educational theory reveals the nature of the most comprehensive form of such theorising to be problematic. It is argued that a solution to this problem depends upon the solution to the wider problem of the nature of political ideology, to which the discussion therefore shifts. Existing theories of political ideology being deemed inadequate, a fresh start is made by showing how this form of theory combines the descriptive and the evaluative in a particular way and with particular logical consequences. These consequences characterise ideology as a peculiar form of ethical understanding, involving a distinctive way of thinking and having a logical structure of its own. However, these characteristics which make ideology distinctive are not inherently political, and the possibility of there being several different forms of ideology is discussed. With these conclusions it becomes possible to return to the problem of comprehensive educational theory and show that it is composed of a number of
philosophy ideology educational_theory work concerned_nature scope ideology begin_examination relationship theory_practice relatively area education analysis different_kind educational_theory reveals nature comprehensive form theorise problematic argue solution_problem depend_upon solution wider problem nature political_ideology discussion therefore shift existing theory political_ideology deem inadequate fresh start make show form theory combine descriptive evaluative particular_way particular logical consequence consequence characterise ideology peculiar form ethical involve distinctive way_think logical_structure own however characteristic make ideology distinctive inherently political possibility several_different form ideology discuss conclusion become_possible return problem comprehensive educational_theory show compose number