1st Edition

Dialectics of Knowing in Education Transforming Conventional Practice into its Opposite

By Neil Hooley Copyright 2019
    228 Pages
    by Routledge

    228 Pages
    by Routledge

    Dialectics of Knowing in Education strengthens the philosophical basis of formal education that has been weakened by neoliberalism over the past 30 years. It theorises and encourages human existence based on social action, culture, inquiry and creativity so that citizens in democratic association can formulate their own understandings of the world and be their own philosophers of practice.

    Under neoliberal capitalism, formal education has become a key economic driver and factor for all countries, but has exacerbated social division and inequality. This has led to an increased pressure on education systems to emphasise individual gain and prosperity at the expense of community care and concern. Drawing on the work of Dewey, Mead, Freire and Biesta, the author argues that formal education at all levels must be transformed so that it does not seek to impose knowledge and truth, but situates knowledge as being constructed by democratic learning circles of staff, students and citizens.

    Focusing particularly on the notion of praxis and specific issues involving Indigenous, feminist and practitioner knowing, this book will help scholars, practitioners and policy makers to transform their education theories and practices in ways that encourage democracy, emancipation, social action, culture, inquiry and creativity.

    List of figures

    List of tables

    About the Author

    Preface

    Acknowledgements

    Dedication: John Dewey

    Poem: Intellect

    PART I: Looking Backwards, Looking Forwards

    1. Materialism and Dialectics

    2. Science and Humanities as Praxis

    3. Intersubjective Praxis

    4. Living with Ethical Conduct

    PART II: Looking Inwards, Looking Outwards

    5. Subjectification: How We Are

    6. Thinking about Consciousness

    7. Language, Thought and Creativity

    8. Thinking in Social and Technological Environments

    PART III: Looking to the Earth, Looking to the Sky

    9. Indigenous Philosophy and Knowledge

    10. Feminism and Education

    11. Bricolage: Practitioner Knowledge and Research

    12. Dialectics of Democracy, Citizenry, Knowing: A Letter to Those Who Would Act and Teach

    References

    Index

    Biography

    Dr Neil Hooley is an Honorary Fellow in the College of Arts and Education, Victoria University Melbourne. He has interests in Democracy and Social Justice, Philosophy of Education, Pragmatism, Critical Theory and Action Research. He supports recognition, respect and reconciliation between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples of Australia.