EP59 | Liberal Education’s Postmodern Critics

About this episode

Stephen Hicks explores the philosophical underpinnings of education by contrasting pre-modern authoritarianism, modern liberalism, and postmodern critiques.

In this episode of Open College, Stephen Hicks explores the philosophical underpinnings of education by contrasting pre-modern authoritarianism, modern liberalism, and postmodern critiques. Hicks examines how educational philosophies reflect deeper questions about knowledge, values, and human nature, highlighting the authoritarian tendencies of pre-modern and postmodern approaches. He advocates for modern liberal education, which emphasizes intellectual freedom, critical thinking, and informed judgment, arguing that education should prepare individuals to exercise self-responsible action while respecting diverse viewpoints. Through historical and contemporary examples, Hicks underscores the importance of maintaining intellectual diversity and liberty in educational institutions. Follow Open College on Substack. OpenCollege.Substack.coms

People in this episode

Host: Stephen Hicks

Topics covered

• liberal education
• postmodern critiques
• intellectual freedom
• critical thinking
• educational philosophy

Keywords

• liberal education
• postmodernism
• intellectual freedom
• critical thinking
• educational philosophy
• authoritarianism
• intellectual diversity

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