EDST 103: Philosophy of Education

What is education? What are its goals? Why is education of value? Are these questions that can be settled once and for all, or do their answers depend on historical and cultural factors? In an effort to answer these questions, we will study works of philosophers such as Plato, Rousseau, Wollstonecraft, Du Bois, Washington, and Dewey. Two papers are required.

No prerequisites; no previous work in philosophy is required. Open to any student who wants to think seriously about the fundamental nature and purposes of education.