William James and Education - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0807741965 ISBN 13: 9780807741962

Publisher: Teachers College Press, 2002

Synopsis

William James and Education is a dynamic collection of original essays spotlighting William James as a role model for bringing philosophy to bear on the persistent issues of life and education. Using James’s philosophical ideas, the contributors evade the polarization and superficiality that permeate the debate around such educational issues as standards versus diversity, cultural consensus versus multiculturalism, religion versus science, and individual freedom versus social determinism. The result is a synthetic collection of essays offering original, unique, and useful insights.

One of the most influential of American philosophers, William James is relevant today because he provides a way of understanding human behavior that is both rigorous and humane. James shows how we may soften and sometimes harmonize rigid ideological divisions, such as those plaguing contemporary education, with a pragmatic approach to issues of theory and practice. By reconsidering some of the roots of American thought in James’s work, this volume points the way to valuing both uniqueness and universality, among other seemingly opposing concerns. The result is a lively weave of historical and contemporary thought, providing philosophical perspectives on the critical issues facing educators today.

About this title

Book Description

"A lively collection of essays. Through the authors’ knowledgeable and spirited re-interpretation of his work, James returns to life, vividly speaking once again to a new generation of teachers and like-minded readers."
—
Philip W. Jackson
, David Lee Shillinglaw Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, University of Chicago

From the Author

Jim Garrison is a Professor of Philosophy of Education at Virginia Tech. Ron Podeschi is a Professor-Emeritus of Educational Policy and Community Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Eric Bredo is a Professor in the Department of Leadership, Foundations, and Policy at the University of Virginia.

About this edition

• Publisher: Teachers College Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0807741965
• ISBN 13: 9780807741962
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 216
• Editor: Garrison James, Podeschi Ronald, Bredo Eric