
Any liberal democratic state must honour religious and cultural pluralism in its educational policies. To fail to honour them would betray ideals of freedom and toleration fundamental to liberal democracy. Yet if such ideals are to flourish from one generation to the next, allegiance to the distinctive values of liberal democracy is a necessary educational end, whose pursuit will constrain pluralism. The problem of political education is therefore to ensure the continuity across generations of the constitutive ideals of liberal democracy, while remaining hospitable to a diversity of conduct and belief that sometimes threatens those very ideals. Creating Citizens addresses this crucial problem. In lucid and elegant prose, Professor Callan, one of the world's foremost philosophers of education, identifies both the principal ends of civic education, and the rights that limit their political pursuit. This timely new study sheds light on some of the most divisive educational controversies, such as state sponsorship and regulation of denominational schooling, as well as the role of non-denominational schools in the moral and political development of children. Oxford Political Theory presents the best new work in contemporary political theory. It is intended to be broad in scope, including original contributions to political philosophy, and also work in applied political theory. The series will contain works of outstanding quality with no restriction as to approach or subject matter. The series editors are David Miller and Alan Ryan.
How can a liberal democratic state effectively foster civic allegiance to democratic values while simultaneously respecting the religious and cultural pluralism of its citizens? Eamonn Callan, a prominent philosopher of education, examines the inherent tension between maintaining a cohesive political identity and protecting individual freedom. He argues that political education must balance the necessity of cultivating democratic virtues with the rights of families and communities to maintain diverse beliefs and practices.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and political theorists frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the moral complexities of civic education. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for an audience familiar with contemporary political philosophy and educational theory.
Page Count:
272
Publication Date:
1997-01-01
Publisher:
Clarendon Press
ISBN-10:
0191521981
ISBN-13:
9780191521980
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