Humanity as an (in)dispensable category of pedagogical considerations? On postmodern crisis of the theory of education in the face of a challenge of trans- and posthumanism Cover Image

Człowieczeństwo jako (nie)zbędna kategoria refleksji pedagogicznej? O ponowoczesnym kryzysie teorii wychowania w obliczu wyzwania trans- i posthumanizmu
Humanity as an (in)dispensable category of pedagogical considerations? On postmodern crisis of the theory of education in the face of a challenge of trans- and posthumanism

Author(s): Markus Lipowicz
Subject(s): Education, Structuralism and Post-Structuralism, Sociology of Education
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe ChAT
Keywords: pedagogy; humanity; educational ideal; postmodernity; transhumanism; posthumanism; philosophy; sophistry

Summary/Abstract: In the present article I will try to show the reasons for the emerging crisis of pedagogical theory in postmodernity and propose a way of overcoming it. I will argue that the main reason of this postmodern crisis results from its key premise, which is the “death of man”. Throwing into question humanity as a universally obligating social norm opened a brighter view of cultural pluralism for educational praxis. However, in this way pedagogy lost its most crucial reference point which is the educational ideal in the form of a philosophically grounded image of man. This development resulted in the loss of pedagogy’s philosophical roots in favor sophistically understood conventionalism, which in turn indispose the rise of a postmodern pedagogical theory. Possibilities of overcoming this complex situation come two current philosophical-scientific movements: transhumanism and critical posthumanism. I will argue that only the latter promises the reconnection of pedagogy with philosophy without forfeiting the cultural pluralism achieved in postmodernity. On the posthuman ground, as I will argue, we find a chance to finally develop a postmodern theory of pedagogy.

  • Issue Year: VIII/2017
  • Issue No: 2 (19)
  • Page Range: 35-57
  • Page Count: 23
  • Language: Polish