Disc 3

Game- 3

1. Knowledge can be easily defined in many fields. For instance, knowledge in science is a hypothesis that can be proven. Even in philosophy, knowledge is a justified, true belief. But what is knowledge in the arts? What kind of truth can art tell? Plato felt the emotion found in art clouded our rational faculties. It was the dividing point of the great debate between Plato and Aristotle. Aristotle felt drama could tell the truth. Iris Murdoch, a novelist and a philosopher may have stated it best,

For better or worse art goes deeper than philosophy. Ideas in art must suffer a sea change. Think how much original thought there is in Shakespeare and how divinely inconspicuous it is… When we ask what a novel is about we are asking for something deep. What is Proust about, and why not just read Bergson? There is always something moral which goes down further than the ideas. The structures of good literary works are to do with erotic mysteries and deep dark struggles between good and evil. (Existentialists and Mystics, 21)

Collingwood tells us knowledge in art is knowledge of the individual.(289). What do you think about this debate, this conflict, that appears to exist between philosophy and art?

2. In ancient Greece, the aim of education was the cultivation of the "civilized" person, according to Aristotle's virtues and the Golden Mean. It was believed that the student would absorb an ethical system if they studied classical works. This form of education is still in practice today. What are your views on studying the ancient classics?

3. In the mid-1900's Dewey instituted a shift in education from the classical model to the pragmatic; that is, students would follow a practical form of education that was more aimed at preparing them to become productive citizens in a democracy. Students would learn to do things in school and they would learn occupations. Also, Dewey wanted to do away with reading classical literature and allow students to read adventure stories that were more exciting and entertaining because they would interest the students more. This is also part of Dewey's pragmatic theory of truth which says whatever is working for us is the best path to take. What do you think about a strong practical element leading educational policy?

4. Dewey has been criticized for his description of the mind as an unfolding organism He claims that education is growth. He proposes a child-centered education vs. a subject centered one, but many thinkers have countered with the idea that growth and more growth without direction is equally as useless as teaching what is irrelevant to the student. What is your opinion?