On classical and progressive education
On classical and progressive education

Summary/Abstract: A debate between defenders of classical education, led by Robert Maynard Hutchins and Mortimer Adler, and proponents of progressive education, led by pragmatist philosopher John Dewey, took place in the United States in the twentieth century. Dewey argued that educators should replace the philosophical tradition of Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas with knowledge rooted in a philosophy of experience and the methods of the empirical sciences. Despite the efforts of Hutchins, Adler, and others, progressive education prevailed, resulting in an educational system characterized by pragmatism and positivism. One reason progressive education was successful is that the tradition of classical education originated in aristocratic societies, with a distinction between the liberal and servile arts, while progressive education appeared to be more appropriate for a democratic society. What we need today is integration of liberal and professional education, so that all students, including students of business and other professions, can be classically educated and understand what it means to live a virtuous life while working for a living. Neo-Thomist philosopher Jacques Maritain can assist us in thinking about how to achieve this integrated education.

• Details
• Contents