Does an argument for a detached school contain an incoherence?
Date
2018
Authors
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Publisher
Tartu Ülikool
Abstract
In this thesis, I argue that Levinson’s argument for a detached school is inconsistent in the
sense that the solution to the problem of cultural coherence of a child’s identity violates the
function of a detached school. However, I argue, this incoherence could be resolved by
introducing a particular requirement to the content of civic education.
With this aim, I explain Levinson’s arguments that children in a liberal state should be
educated for autonomy. I show why, according to Levinson, valuation of autonomy by a liberal
state makes the three commitments of liberalism – to good life pluralism, to a legitimation
process, and to substantive liberal institutions – consistent with one another. Since a liberal state must be committed to the valuation of autonomy, a system of formal schooling must be such that generates children with an ability for autonomy. I explain what is the conception of autonomy that, according to Levinson, should be promoted within a liberal state. Since one of the requirements of the minimal substantive conception of autonomy poses a problem for an ideal liberal school, I explain Levinson’s solution to it and point out the incoherence of such a solution. Finally, I defend Levinson’s argument for a detached school by showing how the incoherence in question could be resolved. I present further objections to the proposed solution and reply to them.
Description
Keywords
autonomy, practical philosophy, detached school