The Foundations of Whiteheads Philosophy of Education :: Science Learning Papers

The Foundations of whiteheads Philosophy of EducationThe inspiration for this paper comes from the Fiftieth Anniversary of the death of Alfred North Whitehead and the theme of this Congress. In Aims of Education, Whitehead describes the role of freedom and limitation in the educational process. The foundations of these concepts, and important clues to their application, can be found in his general metaphysical framework outlined in Process and Reality. Positive and negative prehensions seem to be the model for freedom and limitation hence, the latter concept implies the discipline of inwrought aim. This analysis supports an interpretation of the mutual complementarity of freedom and discipline, with obvious applications to the educational process. Published initially in 1929, Alfred North Whiteheads The Aims of Education is certainly not a peeled book. However, since last year marked the 50th anniversary of Whiteheads death as well as my preparations for this dry land Congress, t he general theme of which is paidaia, it seemed the fitting moment to read this classic and reflect once more upon its inspiring insights and timeless wisdom. The Aims of Education is really a set of essays first composed as lectures. Whitehead delivered these lectures at Cambridge, England, and at Harvard University between the years 1912 and 1928. His stated purpose was to protest against dead knowledge. (AE, v) Perhaps these protests ought to continue into our own generation, but I hesitate. I am apprehensive that one of the casualties of any success in such protests might well be Whitehead himself, for the abstract, general nature of his thought has always been a dispute to professional philosophers and nearly incomprehensible to young school of thought students. Nevertheless, pondering Whiteheads thought has always been, in my opinion, well worth the effort for those who persevere. The third chapter of The Aims of Education, entitled The cadent Claims of Freedom and Discip line, is where I find the essence of Whiteheads educational philosophy. This philosophy, I shall argue, is simply a reiteration in educational language of the core principles of his general philosophy as stated in Process and Reality and in Science and the Modern World.Let us begin with the term value. Science and the Modern World provides us with an earlier interpretation of this notion. Here Whitehead explains that Value is the word I use for the intrinsic reality of an event. (SMW, 93) Now an event for Whitehead constitutes a key datum of reality.