Philosophy of Education: Thinking and Learning Through History and Practice

Review\nRyder’s book is pivotal. Higher education is experiencing declining support and increased interference. Response to this crisis will shape our nation’s future. Success is likely if we follow Ryder’s suggested pathways: understanding the history of education, affirming that student talent is universal without cultural boundaries, and the development of individual autonomy and social responsibility.\n-- Herman J. Saatkamp, Jr., former president, Stockton College of New Jersey\nWritten by a first-rate philosopher who realizes our thinking about philosophy of education must reflect our broader view of human nature, society, reality, and how we know it, this book takes a systematic and normative approach. Ryder perceptively exploits the tensions among the four philosophers leaving the reader to resolve issues for themselves. This book will prove a pleasure to read as well as teach.
-- Jim Garrison, professor emeritus, Virginia Tech\nJohn Ryder has written a clear and accessible textbook that is intellectually rich and refreshingly relevant for educators at all levels. His conceptual framework, one that encompasses both historical and philosophical analyses, offers the reader a pathway in to a systematic understanding of philosophy of education. Ryder is one of the rare scholars who is both trained in philosophy per se, and who has worked extensively with educational practitioners—including K-12 classroom teachers. Consequently, he is able to bridge the age-old divide between pure and applied philosophy—between theory and practice—and create a relevant text for contemporary educators, academic philosophers, and policy makers alike. -- Wendy Kohli, Professor Emerita, Fairfield University\nAssuming no background knowledge of philosophy, John Ryder’s introductory text surveys canonical writings and contemporary applications to inform future teachers’ practice of systematic philosophy of education. Exposing readers to the philosophies that built Western education, the book welcomes the development of alternate approaches through systematic analysis of how theory informs practice.
The book systematically analyzes key contributions by the four most influential figures in the philosophy of Western education—Plato, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Dewey, and Paolo Freire.
The book then builds on historical theories to help readers develop their own systematic philosophies of education. After questions of why, how, by or for whom, about what, where, and when education should be undertaken, the book delves into metaphysical, epistemological, and socio-political questions that may underlie educational principles.
Encouraging readers to practice a philosophy of education rather than follow a prescribed path, the book presents a model of exploration that builds on ideas developed by philosophers such as Nel Noddings that can be applied across contemporary and emerging educational issues. The analytic experience and conceptual background material of this book enables readers to think carefully and reflectively about educational principles, policies, and practices as they dedicate themselves to the profession of education.