Skip to the main content

Sociology and Space, Vol. 44 No. 174 (4), 2006.

Review article

Hard knowledge, soft values

Mladen Domazet orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-9870-9485 ; Institute for Social Research in Zagreb

Full text: english pdf 221 Kb

page 505-524

downloads: 916

cite

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

https://hrcak.srce.hr/94057

Publication date:

17.2.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian french

Visits: 1.732 *