Educational critique, critical thinking and the critical philosophical traditions

Journal of Philosophy of Education 38 (3):369–378 (2004)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Responding to Jan Masschelein's discussion of critical distance and the trivialisation of critique in his ‘How to Conceive of Critical Educational Theory Today?’, I draw attention to the antinomic character of immanence and transcendence—that is, to the way that it entails both non-circumventible necessity and omnipresent risks. I argue that the discourse of critical thinking in education is exemplary of the tensions generated by such consolidated meanings. Through this prism, I aim to offer a nuanced account of ways in which the trivialisation of critique nurtures narcissistic and conformist tendencies that do not leave unaffected any critical philosophical line of thought. To illustrate my critique of contemporary critical education of all persuasions, I deal with an ethics of reading and writing. I suggest that, rather than encouraging cynicism and an abdication of responsibility, this antinomic character of critique should discourage any complacent and one-sided reliance on one's own tradition.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,221

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Re/Thinking Critical Thinking: The Seductions of Everyday Life.Kal Alston - 2001 - Studies in Philosophy and Education 20 (1):27-40.
Critical Thinking Beyond Skill.Marianna Papastephanou & Charoula Angeli - 2007 - Educational Philosophy and Theory 39 (6):604-621.
The goal of critical thinking: from educational ideal to educational reality.Debbie Walsh - 1989 - Washington, D.C. (555 New Jersey Ave., N.W., Washington 20001): American Federation of Teachers, Educational Issues Dept.. Edited by Richard Paul.
Introduction to critical thinking.Bruce R. Reichenbach - 2001 - Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education.

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-01-28

Downloads
12 (#925,053)

6 months
1 (#1,027,696)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Citations of this work

Critical Thinking Beyond Skill.Marianna Papastephanou & Charoula Angeli - 2007 - Educational Philosophy and Theory 39 (6):604-621.

Add more citations

References found in this work

Writing and difference.Jacques Derrida - 1978 - Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Moral Consciousness and Communicative Action.David M. Rasmussen - 1993 - Philosophical Quarterly 43 (173):571.
Re/Thinking Critical Thinking: The Seductions of Everyday Life.Kal Alston - 2001 - Studies in Philosophy and Education 20 (1):27-40.

Add more references