Review article
Hard knowledge, soft values
Mladen Domazet
orcid.org/0000-0002-9870-9485
; Institute for Social Research in Zagreb
Abstract
The paper contrasts two domains of school education, natural science
and citizenship education (as a paradigm of “hard” and “soft” subjects), with respect
to their epistemological and ethical foundations. A sharp contrast between
their associated world-views within the school community is accentuated at the
outset. The epistemological shortcomings inherent in both are subsequently explored,
and the debate between epistemological relativism and “naturalism” (a form
of foundationalism) relating to scientific knowledge is briefly reviewed. Through
review of organizational principles behind selection of knowledge for presentation
in schools, values are introduced as an epistemically, as well as ethically, important
component of school education. Subsequent analysis aims to show that even in
this respect there are more similarities between the “soft” and “hard” subjects than
is standardly assumed.
Keywords
Natural science; civics; naturalism; relativism; knowledge; values
Hrčak ID:
94057
URI
Publication date:
17.2.2007.
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