Abstract
The lives of John Dewey (1859-1952) and Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937) could not be of greater contrast in their personal circumstances; the one led a long, active, healthy and free life, whilst the other struggled in difficult social and political circumstances, suffered from ill-health and spent the last 10 years of his life in prison where he nevertheless succeeded in writing on history and philosophy. What makes a comparison fruitful is that both identified the central role that education plays in building a democratic way of life. Their very different experiences, both personal and political form the basis for more than merely a textual comparison: for we can read Gramsci’s Selections from Prison Notebooks against Democracy and Education and vice-versa. Arguably, a comprehensive account of the role of education in democratic life needs to take account ideas from both texts – not as forming a convenient unity but rather as a tension that informs our reflective practice.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - 30 Sep 2016 |
| Event | Dewey's 'Democracy and Education' 100 years on:: Past, Present and Future Relevance - Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge Duration: 28 Sep 2016 → 1 Oct 2016 https://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/events/conferences/dewey2016/ |
Conference
| Conference | Dewey's 'Democracy and Education' 100 years on: |
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| Period | 28/09/16 → 1/10/16 |
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