Aristotle on the Necessity of Public Education - by Randall R Curren (Hardcover)

About the Book

Aristotle regarded law and education as the two fundamental and deeply interdependent tools of political art, making the use of education by the statesman a topic of the first importance in his practical philosophy. The present work develops the first comprehensive treatment of this neglected topic, and assesses the importance of Aristotle's defense of public education for current debates about school choice and privatization, and educational equality.

Book Synopsis

The book concludes that Aristotle's views yield a compelling argument for the claim that public supervision of education is a necessary condition for a just society. It examines the implications and limitations of that argument, including particularly the form and substance of the educational equality which it demands. Contrasting it with other recent arguments for educational equality, I conclude that it provides the most decisive argument for educational equality available, but also that it does not establish a legitimate basis for a state monopoly on the provision of schooling, and for ensuring its availability to everyone. Some privatization schemes, but not others, would be compatible with this result.

Review Quotes

"Curren offers a powerful and well-written contribution not only to the study of ancient philosophy, but also to contemporary philosophy of education. This is a work that should be thought about as well as read by those interested in and concerned with questions of educational policy, the politics of education, the role of education in a democratic society, and the ethical role of the school. Highly recommended for upper-division undergraduates, gradute students, faculty, and professionals." --Choice Reviews

"First, one might well anticipate some uncertainty on the part of librarians concerning whether they should classify Randall Curren's work as a contribution to Aristotelian scholarship, as a contribution to political theory, or as a work of analytical philosophy of education. One can also sympathise with any such indecision to the extent that Curren's book may be regarded as an extremely rich and important contribution to all these fields of enquiry. Curren's book deserves to be widely read - both as a shining example of contemporary political and educational philosophy, and for what it adds to the growing general appreciation of Aristotle's enormous contemporary educational relevance." --Educational Philosophy and Theory

"Curren's reading of Aristotle adds an important new and distinctive voice in the debate over public educationnnnn" --Political Theory

"Aristotelian scholars will be greatful to Curren for illuminating several aspects of Aristotle's theory of education, even if the whole is ultimately less than its parts." --Ethics: An International Journal of Social, Political, and Legal Philosophy

"A useful and careful study of Aristotle's educational theories as applied to the Greek city-states..." --Review of Metaphysics

"Randall Curren's remarkable book presents a masterful yet accessible account of Aristotle's views on public education. It combines classical scholarship of the first order with a fine attunement to some of the most vexing issues that challenge policy and practice today." --Gareth B. Matthews, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

"Curren's reading of Aristotle adds an important new and distinctive voice in the debate over public education" --Political Theory

About the Author

Randall R. Curren is associate professor of philosophy and education at the University of Rochester.