Philosophy Problems :(

t_dun

Guys,

Im doing an essay on Ivan Illich for Philosophy of Education and SERIOUSLY struggling... Its about deschooling society and how school measures everything, including the imagination. Anybody got any suggestions or insights about what I could write about!? Would reallllllllllly appreciate any help!!!!

18AD

Is there a specific article you're working off? Any additional details would be helpful.

18AD

Right, I've never read this guy at all. Do you have much time to do the assignment? Do you know how to write a philosophy essay (no harm checking )?

Most importnantly, what do you think?

Do you think you can measure a child's imagination?
Does basing education on rewards not devalue education? If you just learn for reward are you really learning at all?
If people simply scrape and cheat their way through and still pass their course is this any indication of their abilities?
If all education is based on results, ie. how well the class is doing, does this not lower the standards of education so that more people are seen to be passing?



This is somewhat helpful: http://www.webster.edu/~corbetre/philosophy/education/illich/schooling.html

Some importnat bits:

Illich is NOT against standards. The exact opposite is true. He wants to rigorously demanding standards. However, he argues, credentials are not in any way a reliable measure of who does and who doesn't have ability, learning and talent.

If someone wants to know if you know philosophy of education, the question is not to ask if you passed Bob Corbett's class and what grade did you get. Rather, it would be to ask you about the philosophy of education and see what you say.
if I want to hire a good plumber the procedure is NOT to ask if he or she has a certificate from some plumbing school. Rather, test the plumber's achievement. Ask for a list of the last 5 jobs he or she did and call the people to see if the plumber plumbed well. That's the issue.
if you want to get a good cancer physician, again, do not bother to see if he or she has a degree from a renowned cancer school (remember that at least 50% of the class had to finish in the bottom half of their class), rather, again, inquire about who some patients they've treated were and contact the patients. Ask around to your friends and family: who has had good experience with a cancer physician? Get on the internet, see who's DOING what in cancer research.

Those activities test ACHIEVEMENTS not processing, not schooling, not credentialing. By the way, things like awards for ACHIEVEMENT in practice are not credentialing notions. They are testimonies to actual achievement. The award for best actor isn't because one hung around long enough in the theater, it is a measure of achievement.

The point here is that Illich is in no way opposed to standards. Rather he believes very much in the standards of demonstrated knowledge, talent, achievement and so on. He doesn't trust the notion of credentials for having been in some curriculum of study or training.

These two may be helpful:
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/sugata_mitra_the_child_driven_education.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

t_dun

Thanks a million! You have been really helpful and think I know what im doing now a lil' better Have a few days to do it, and no im not too sure I actually know how to do a Phili Essay but Il give it a go

Thanks again

18AD

Here's the basic format. Write your intro and conclusion last.

1. Intro (Summary of what is to come)
2. Summary of Argument (Ivan Illich in this case)
3. Counterargument or Explication (Your opinion)
4. Criticism of Counterargument or Explication (How Illich or someone else might respond to you)
5. Conclusion (Summary of all the previous parts)

Anyhow. A great way to learn is to explain to others what you're writing about, so don't hesitate to run it by here or anything. Good luck with it!