This text investigates the fundamental relationship between human nature, social structures, and the objectives of educational systems. Anthony O'Hear, a noted philosopher, examines how different philosophical traditions interpret the purpose of schooling and the development of the individual within a community. He argues that educational policy cannot be divorced from broader metaphysical and ethical questions regarding what it means to be human. The book provides a rigorous framework for evaluating contemporary educational practices against historical and philosophical benchmarks.

Scholars and educators frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the philosophical underpinnings of modern schooling. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a foundational knowledge of political and moral philosophy to fully grasp the author's arguments.