The Test of Practice–An Essay
This essay starts in medias res, in the puzzling reappearance of the classical metaphor of Bildung as the transformation of man’s “first” animal nature into the “second” cultivated one. I call it the two-natures metaphor. I think it misrepresents children by prescribing form rather than asking what...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-02-01
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| Series: | Education Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/7/1/31 |
| _version_ | 1811304466263048192 |
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| author | Lars Løvlie |
| author_facet | Lars Løvlie |
| author_sort | Lars Løvlie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This essay starts in medias res, in the puzzling reappearance of the classical metaphor of Bildung as the transformation of man’s “first” animal nature into the “second” cultivated one. I call it the two-natures metaphor. I think it misrepresents children by prescribing form rather than asking what actually takes form in the child’s mind—in his/her relationship with adults. It made me wonder whether this mistake also lingers on in the current discourse on education. I then turn to aspects of John Dewey’s subtle and revolutionary critique of the classical theory of formation, but also to make the controversial point that he, too, seems to miss the importance of the child’s internal point of view. The importance of the subjective life of the child is suggested first by reinscribing Rousseau and Kant into the intersubjective theories of Hegel and Dewey; second, by reference to recent studies in developmental psychology that offer detailed and in-depth descriptions of our relationship with children. My basic point of departure is the existential encounters between children and adults, for example, as part of classroom practices. The title has a double connotation. It means that theory must be taken as the measure of practice. It means, too, that practice must work as the measure of theory. I will, in the main, try and pursue the last course. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:07:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1e63f1aad3bd4f1ca7f7327b1f8970ee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-7102 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:07:40Z |
| publishDate | 2017-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-1e63f1aad3bd4f1ca7f7327b1f8970ee2022-12-22T02:55:06ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022017-02-01713110.3390/educsci7010031educsci7010031The Test of Practice–An EssayLars Løvlie0Institute of Education, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1092, 0317 Blindern, Oslo, NorwayThis essay starts in medias res, in the puzzling reappearance of the classical metaphor of Bildung as the transformation of man’s “first” animal nature into the “second” cultivated one. I call it the two-natures metaphor. I think it misrepresents children by prescribing form rather than asking what actually takes form in the child’s mind—in his/her relationship with adults. It made me wonder whether this mistake also lingers on in the current discourse on education. I then turn to aspects of John Dewey’s subtle and revolutionary critique of the classical theory of formation, but also to make the controversial point that he, too, seems to miss the importance of the child’s internal point of view. The importance of the subjective life of the child is suggested first by reinscribing Rousseau and Kant into the intersubjective theories of Hegel and Dewey; second, by reference to recent studies in developmental psychology that offer detailed and in-depth descriptions of our relationship with children. My basic point of departure is the existential encounters between children and adults, for example, as part of classroom practices. The title has a double connotation. It means that theory must be taken as the measure of practice. It means, too, that practice must work as the measure of theory. I will, in the main, try and pursue the last course.http://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/7/1/31Bildungthe two-natures metaphorDewey’s blind eyeRousseau’s pointKant’s invitationthe child perspectivelife issuesinterpretation |
| spellingShingle | Lars Løvlie The Test of Practice–An Essay Education Sciences Bildung the two-natures metaphor Dewey’s blind eye Rousseau’s point Kant’s invitation the child perspective life issues interpretation |
| title | The Test of Practice–An Essay |
| title_full | The Test of Practice–An Essay |
| title_fullStr | The Test of Practice–An Essay |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Test of Practice–An Essay |
| title_short | The Test of Practice–An Essay |
| title_sort | test of practice an essay |
| topic | Bildung the two-natures metaphor Dewey’s blind eye Rousseau’s point Kant’s invitation the child perspective life issues interpretation |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/7/1/31 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT larsløvlie thetestofpracticeanessay AT larsløvlie testofpracticeanessay |