<p> Building upon an emerging literature of educational biopolitics, this dissertation develops and thinks through some concepts to explore the prevailing forms of educational life (constituted <i>b&iacute;os</i>) that schools commonly promote in the service of constituted power and, alternatively, the kinds of educational life (constituent <i>b&iacute;os</i>) that call constituted power into question and portend new possibilities and alternative arrangements of being. In considering the kinds of life that schools typically allow and disallow, this philosophical dissertation poses the following educational problem: schools have long celebrated and reproduced a limited and corrosive formulation of educational life (constituted <i>b&iacute;os</i>) while foreclosing constituent forms. Moreover, the emergent social, political and epistemological strengths of students marginalized in the configuration of constituted power&mdash;the component parts of constituent <i>b&iacute;os </i>&mdash;are routinely deemed inferior in schools and often regarded as a contaminating threat that must be eliminated. Using the concepts of constituent and constituted <i>b&iacute;os</i> as units of analysis, this study explores how progressive and critical educational approaches, such as culturally relevant teaching and resistance theory, also fail to account for and appreciate constituent forms of educational life. In order to offer a more nuanced understanding of the relation between forms of life and schools, this study offers an <i> autonomist biopolitics of education</i>. With this orientation, constituent <i> b&iacute;os</i> is recognized as the foundational and constitutive motor to which schools are constantly reacting and attempting to &ldquo;deal with.&rdquo; Such a perspective might help educators be more attuned and responsive to the constituent dimensions of social ontology.</p>

What is the role of philosophy in education? This timeless question may best be answered by examining Plato's earliest dialogues in which he makes a case for philosophy as the centerpiece of education. I call this effort Plato's project for education and interpret the Apology, Crito, Charmides, Laches, Ion, Hippias Minor, Euthyphro, and Lysis as an integrated attempt to promote philosophy as education in ancient Athens. Plato accepted arete (excellence, virtue) as the proper goal of education, but his interpretation of arete as a distinctly moral quality required a new approach to education. Plato recognized that the quality in a doctor that makes her aim at what is good for her patient is distinct from the skill that enables her to choose the most effective treatment. Against traditional education, which emphasized social standing, professional skill, and the accumulation of information, Plato focused on the moral dimension of human beings and prescribed philosophy as a means for developing it. Memorization of information and tuition in practical skills may help us in our particular crafts, but it does little to improve us morally. This task must be undertaken separately through examination and reflection. Success will be judged not by one's peers, or even by one's government, but by the gods themselves who adhere to a universal idea of goodness. Plato's conception of arete as the health of the soul precipitates a new approach to education that focuses on philosophy and presents Socrates as its hero and martyr. Health of the soul, like health of the body, is something that requires constant labor and attention, and yet may never be perfected. In Plato's project, the ignorant Socrates and the dialogues themselves become indirect teachers by exhorting students to care for their souls and to appreciate the task. The promise that arete can be achieved through the pursuit of moral wisdom is given in the words and actions of Socrates. Like his ancient friends, the reader struggles to understand Socrates and from this struggle emerges philosophy: the love and pursuit of wisdom; the proper education for arete.

This study describes teachers' shared meaning for the concept of "community" within early childhood classrooms at a school committed to community-building. Nine early childhood teachers at a progressive private school in western Massachusetts were the principle informants for this study. The qualitative design of this study was guided by the rationale and method of multi-vocal visual-ethnography. The primary method of study was a series of interviews: semi-structured interviews with individual teachers, video-reflective interviews with teaching teams, and a series of large group video-reflective interviews which provoked cultural "outsider" reflections. These "outsider" interviews involved the Massachusetts teachers' discussion of videotape from Italian early childhood classrooms, and conversely, Italian teachers' discussion of videotape from the Massachusetts teachers' classrooms. The analysis of the data was based upon grounded theory, using the constant comparison method to construct a set of themes that represented the teachers' thinking about community. Four themes, which convey a complex understanding of community in early childhood classrooms, were found and discussed: first, teachers sought to balance the tension between issues of inclusion and exclusion; second, teachers conceptualized community as a reflection of the qualities of unique individuals; third, the teachers constructed images about the transmission and development of community over time; and fourth, teachers thought about community as involving an integration of freedom and structure. The teachers used the metaphors of "boundary" and "ownership" to express the dialectic between individualistic values and the building of community. The findings show that the teachers' thinking was influenced by, but not contained by the dichotomy between the individual and the group that is found in philosophical, cultural, and developmental ideas in North American society. Furthermore, the teachers recognized the potential for young children in a group setting to participate in, and contribute to the building of community. A theoretical framework is proposed for future research concerning classroom community.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, May 2010. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 14, 2010). "Department of English." Includes bibliographical references (p. 119-128).

The focus of this dissertation is to identify, analyze, and critique what I take to be a fundamental contradiction between the ideal mission of the university to serve as the site for the pursuit of truth and the function of Traditionalist humanities curriculums. I argue that because nationalist education makes it nearly impossible for students to engage in the critique of ideology, nationalist education is antithetical to the university's mission. With anything less than the ability to engage in this critique of ideology, there is no way that students can participate meaningfully in the ideal of the university. In the opening chapter I argue first, that the development and preservation of national culture stands in a dialectical relation to the preservation and contestation of national identity; second, that post-secondary education in the arts and humanities is largely education in the national culture; and third, that nationalism mediates the dialectical relation between national culture and national identity. In the second chapter I critique nationalism on the grounds that underlying every nationalist movement (including curricular Traditionalism) is a universalist project which denies the reality of complex personal identity formation. In the third chapter I show that the Traditionalist position (articulated by Bloom, D'Souza, and Searle) seeks to support through curricular control nationalist versions of culture and identity. In the fourth chapter I critique Marx's and Mannheim's theories of ideology since they seek to devise methods for evaluating ideology through epistemic standpoints removed from the site of the production of ideology. And thus I conclude this chapter by asserting that in order to be a critic of ideology one must struggle with and acknowledge multiple and complex social identities. In the final chapter I defend the claim that nationalist education undermines the process of teaching students to be critics of ideology since such an education prevents students from engaging the complexity of the encounter between the knowing subject and the object of knowledge. Moreover, I argue that a decidedly non-nationalist multicultural education offers the possibility of developing heterogeneous group identity without the deleterious consequences invariably brought forth by nationalism.

This study has addressed the need for greater understanding of the part education for social change plays in the process of creating a more just, equitable, and humane society. The purpose of this study has been to develop a better understanding of education for social change through examining the case of Highlander Center, a leader and pioneer in American education in the Appalachian region, and its efforts to create greater economic democracy and a more just and democratic society. Initially the author presents the case of Highlander Center and a review of the literature of education for social change to establish a conceptual foundation for this phenomenon and to provide examples of this alternative educational approach. The study then focuses on the qualitative case study methodology that was used in collecting data through open-ended, in-depth interviews with Highlander Center staff and program participants, participant observation at Highlander Center education for social change workshops and trainings, site observations of program participants' efforts in four communities in three Appalachian states, and document analysis. Five themes are used to present the findings of the study: (1) The Economic Problem in Appalachia, (2) Forces That Aid Social Change Toward Greater Economic Democracy, (3) Forces That Constrain Change Toward Greater Economic Democracy, (4) Highlander Center Education for Social Change, and (5) The Part Education for Social Change Plays in the Process of Creating a Society That Is More Democratic and Just. Finally, a summary and interpretation of the research findings are presented, implications for education for social change including a Social and Human Reality Framework of Education for Social Change are discussed, and suggestions are made for further research.

Essa pesquisa aborda um esforço de compreensão e de elaboração da dialética de uma ação desenvolvida pelo autor no campo da educação ambiental, fazendo emergir os desafios da integração entre teoria e prática na produção científica. Embora não tenha se estruturado como uma pesquisa-ação, a investigação resultou no esclarecimento da distância que a separa daquela metodologia. O objeto da pesquisa foi inicialmente a trajetória do autor através do acontecimento do Curso de formação de agentes locais de sustentabilidade (2003-2004) promovido pela Universidade de São Paulo e financiado por uma empresa brasileira do setor de celulose e papel. Inicialmente pretendeu-se demonstrar a tese de que a pouca dedicação à dimensão teórica naquela prática (representada pelas imprecisões no uso das palavras que se empregava) poderia indicar uma obstrução significativa da dialética teoria-prática nas formas de pensamento-linguagem do autor, dificultando a reflexividade crítica que se pretendia alcançar neste processo formativo. Seguindo as pistas de uma pedagogia da práxis, desenvolveu-se um estudo filológico a partir das noções de dialética, filosofia da práxis e pedagogia, interrogando-se sobre o conceito de práxis. Essa investigação levou o pesquisador a revisitar algumas trajetórias de sua iniciação no campo da educação ambiental. Entre as interpretações que se tornaram possíveis na argumentação da tese, entendeu-se que para o favorecimento de uma vertente crítica e emancipadora em educação ambiental faz-se relevante a compreensão da herança marxista aí presente como filosofia da práxis, e igualmente relevante a compreensão das críticas que essa herança recebeu ao longo do século XX. Entre elas, destacou-se as contribuições de Cornelius Castoriadis e de Jürgen Habermas, este último influenciado pelo pragmatismo e empenhado na superação do paradigma da subjetividade a filosofia do sujeito em direção ao paradigma do entendimento recíproco uma filosofia da intersubjetividade. Por outro lado, percebeu-se que a relevância da intervenção social para tal vertente na educação ambiental pode ser melhor realizada na compreensão e problematização da proposta da pesquisa-ação de Kurt Lewin (influenciada pelo pragmatismo) pela perspectiva da filosofia da práxis, como em René Barbier. Ao final conclui o autor que o conceito de práxis compreendido como a ação intersubjetiva que favorece simultaneamente a autonomia individual e coletiva permitiu-lhe a reinterpretação de sua trajetória como uma etapa necessária da própria dialética que buscou compreender, ressignificando assim a própria tese que pretendeu demonstrar, uma vez que a relativa desobstrução da dialética teoria-prática em sua ação educativa só pôde ser parcialmente demonstrada: uma demonstração integral insere-se no desafio de se estruturar um processo formativo inscrito em uma pesquisa-ação, em diálogo com o debate aqui apresentado. / This research addresses an effort of comprehension and elaboration of the dialectics of an action developed by the author in the field of environmental education, giving rise to the emerging of challenges of integration between theory and practice in scientific production. Although it has not been structured as an action research, the investigation resulted in the clarification of the distance that separates it from that methodology. Initially, the object of research was the authors pathway through the Training course for sustainability local agents (2003-2004) promoted by University of São Paulo (USP) and funded by a Brazilian company from pulp and paper industry. The first intention was to demonstrate the argument that the little dedication to theoretical dimension within that practice (represented by inaccuracies in the use of words employed) could indicate a meaningful obstruction of dialectical relationship between theory and practice in forms of author\'s thought and language, hindering the critical reflexivity which constituted the target to achieve in this formative process and encouraging. Following the tracks of pedagogy of praxis, a philological study was developed, starting from the notions of dialectics, philosophy of praxis and pedagogy, questioning the concept of praxis. This investigation has led the researcher to revisit some trajectories of his own initiation in the field of environmental education. Among the interpretations that have become possible in the argumentation of the thesis, it was thought that for the encouragement of a critical and emancipatory branch in environmental education, it is important to understand the marxist legacy present there as philosophy of praxis, and it is equally relevant to understand the criticism that this inheritance has received during the twentieth century. Among them, the contributions of Cornelius Castoriadis and Jürgen Habermas were highlighted, the latter influenced by pragmatism and committed in overcoming the paradigm of subjectivity - the philosophy of consciousness - towards the paradigm of mutual understanding - a philosophy of intersubjectivity. On the other hand, it was realized that the relevance of social intervention for such stream in environmental education can be better accomplished by understanding and questioning the proposal of action research of Kurt Lewin (influenced by pragmatism) through the perspective of philosophy of praxis, as in René Barbier. In the end, the author concludes that the concept of praxis understood as the intersubjective action that encourages both individual and collective autonomy enabled him to reinterpret his history as a necessary stage of the very dialectics he intended to comprehend, thus redefining the very thesis he sought to demonstrate, since the relative clearance on dialectical relationship between theory and practice in his educational action could only be partially demonstrated: a full statement is included in the challenge of building a training process inserted into an action research, in dialogue with the discussion presented here.

Essa pesquisa aborda um esforço de compreensão e de elaboração da dialética de uma ação desenvolvida pelo autor no campo da educação ambiental, fazendo emergir os desafios da integração entre teoria e prática na produção científica. Embora não tenha se estruturado como uma pesquisa-ação, a investigação resultou no esclarecimento da distância que a separa daquela metodologia. O objeto da pesquisa foi inicialmente a trajetória do autor através do acontecimento do Curso de formação de agentes locais de sustentabilidade (2003-2004) promovido pela Universidade de São Paulo e financiado por uma empresa brasileira do setor de celulose e papel. Inicialmente pretendeu-se demonstrar a tese de que a pouca dedicação à dimensão teórica naquela prática (representada pelas imprecisões no uso das palavras que se empregava) poderia indicar uma obstrução significativa da dialética teoria-prática nas formas de pensamento-linguagem do autor, dificultando a reflexividade crítica que se pretendia alcançar neste processo formativo. Seguindo as pistas de uma pedagogia da práxis, desenvolveu-se um estudo filológico a partir das noções de dialética, filosofia da práxis e pedagogia, interrogando-se sobre o conceito de práxis. Essa investigação levou o pesquisador a revisitar algumas trajetórias de sua iniciação no campo da educação ambiental. Entre as interpretações que se tornaram possíveis na argumentação da tese, entendeu-se que para o favorecimento de uma vertente crítica e emancipadora em educação ambiental faz-se relevante a compreensão da herança marxista aí presente como filosofia da práxis, e igualmente relevante a compreensão das críticas que essa herança recebeu ao longo do século XX. Entre elas, destacou-se as contribuições de Cornelius Castoriadis e de Jürgen Habermas, este último influenciado pelo pragmatismo e empenhado na superação do paradigma da subjetividade a filosofia do sujeito em direção ao paradigma do entendimento recíproco uma filosofia da intersubjetividade. Por outro lado, percebeu-se que a relevância da intervenção social para tal vertente na educação ambiental pode ser melhor realizada na compreensão e problematização da proposta da pesquisa-ação de Kurt Lewin (influenciada pelo pragmatismo) pela perspectiva da filosofia da práxis, como em René Barbier. Ao final conclui o autor que o conceito de práxis compreendido como a ação intersubjetiva que favorece simultaneamente a autonomia individual e coletiva permitiu-lhe a reinterpretação de sua trajetória como uma etapa necessária da própria dialética que buscou compreender, ressignificando assim a própria tese que pretendeu demonstrar, uma vez que a relativa desobstrução da dialética teoria-prática em sua ação educativa só pôde ser parcialmente demonstrada: uma demonstração integral insere-se no desafio de se estruturar um processo formativo inscrito em uma pesquisa-ação, em diálogo com o debate aqui apresentado. / This research addresses an effort of comprehension and elaboration of the dialectics of an action developed by the author in the field of environmental education, giving rise to the emerging of challenges of integration between theory and practice in scientific production. Although it has not been structured as an action research, the investigation resulted in the clarification of the distance that separates it from that methodology. Initially, the object of research was the authors pathway through the Training course for sustainability local agents (2003-2004) promoted by University of São Paulo (USP) and funded by a Brazilian company from pulp and paper industry. The first intention was to demonstrate the argument that the little dedication to theoretical dimension within that practice (represented by inaccuracies in the use of words employed) could indicate a meaningful obstruction of dialectical relationship between theory and practice in forms of author\'s thought and language, hindering the critical reflexivity which constituted the target to achieve in this formative process and encouraging. Following the tracks of pedagogy of praxis, a philological study was developed, starting from the notions of dialectics, philosophy of praxis and pedagogy, questioning the concept of praxis. This investigation has led the researcher to revisit some trajectories of his own initiation in the field of environmental education. Among the interpretations that have become possible in the argumentation of the thesis, it was thought that for the encouragement of a critical and emancipatory branch in environmental education, it is important to understand the marxist legacy present there as philosophy of praxis, and it is equally relevant to understand the criticism that this inheritance has received during the twentieth century. Among them, the contributions of Cornelius Castoriadis and Jürgen Habermas were highlighted, the latter influenced by pragmatism and committed in overcoming the paradigm of subjectivity - the philosophy of consciousness - towards the paradigm of mutual understanding - a philosophy of intersubjectivity. On the other hand, it was realized that the relevance of social intervention for such stream in environmental education can be better accomplished by understanding and questioning the proposal of action research of Kurt Lewin (influenced by pragmatism) through the perspective of philosophy of praxis, as in René Barbier. In the end, the author concludes that the concept of praxis understood as the intersubjective action that encourages both individual and collective autonomy enabled him to reinterpret his history as a necessary stage of the very dialectics he intended to comprehend, thus redefining the very thesis he sought to demonstrate, since the relative clearance on dialectical relationship between theory and practice in his educational action could only be partially demonstrated: a full statement is included in the challenge of building a training process inserted into an action research, in dialogue with the discussion presented here.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1973. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.