The Fable of the Mirrors: Network Society and Educational Reform

This book examines the impact of network society on self-identity and education and proposes key tasks for transforming education in network society.

Using the metaphor of the "mirror", the book describes the environment and changes in network society based on the internet and information technology. As the diversity and complexity of network society increases, people see more and more self-images in the large mirrors, leading to a variety of developmental orientations and self-identities, as well as more opportunities for objectification. However, this often leads to confusion as to which image in the mirror really represents oneself. This social framework, which forms the backdrop of modern education, poses new challenges for self-identity formation and educational development. The author emphasizes the role of education in constructing a new "mirror" that can lead children and young people to a better perception of themselves, and thus to self-identification and self-realization.

The title will be of interest to scholars and students in the fields of educational theory and sociology of education, as well as general readers interested in topics related to network society, identity, and education.

Xie Weihe is professor at the Institute of Education, Tsinghua University, China. He is a famous scholar in sociology of education and has published widely in Chinese and English on education theories, educational policy analysis, and sociology of education.