Reimagining Liberal Education: Affiliation and Inquiry in Democratic Schooling

Review

“Although neither a philosopher of education nor a practitioner in moral and ethical education, I found this book worthwhile. Given the debate between atheists and believers, between secularists and people of faith, and between opposing sides on the issue of religion in schools, Alexander provides a way forward that ensures consideration of all aspects of the debate.” – Neil Holm, International Journal of Christianity & Education

Product Description

This challenging and provocative book reimagines the justification, substance, process, and study of education in open, pluralistic, liberal democratic societies.

Hanan Alexander argues that educators need to enable students to embark on a quest for intelligent spirituality, while paying heed to a pedagogy of difference. Through close analysis of the work of such thinkers as William James, Charles Taylor, Elliot Eisner, Michael Oakeshott, Isaiah Berlin, Martin Buber, Michael Apple and Terrence McLaughlin, Reimagining Liberal Education offers an account of school curriculum and moral and religious instruction that throws new light on the possibilities of a nuanced, rounded education for citizenship.

Divided into three parts – Transcendental Pragmatism in Educational Research, Pedagogy of Difference and the Other Face of Liberalism, and Intelligent Spirituality in the Curriculum, this is a thrilling work of philosophy that builds upon the author's award-winning text Reclaiming Goodness: Education and the Spiritual Quest.

About the Author

Hanan Alexander is Professor of Philosophy of Education at the University of Haifa, Israel. He has been Visiting Professor and Visiting Fellow at the University of Cambridge and the University of California, Berkeley and his books include Reclaiming Goodness: Education and the Spiritual Quest, which won the National Jewish Book Award in 2001.