The Four Pillars of Philosophy in Higher Education

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Søren S.E. Bengtsen ◽  
Ronald Barnett
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Complex Societies ◽  
Academic Knowledge ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
Public Debates ◽  
State Interventions ◽  
Epistemic Obligations

The research field of the philosophy of higher education is young, having emerged within the last half-century. However, at this stage four strands, or pillars, of thought may be detected in the core literature, around which the discussions and theorizing efforts cluster. The four pillars are (a) knowledge, (b) truth, (c) critical thinking, and (d) culture. The first pillar, “knowledge,” is concerned with the meaning of academic knowledge as forming a link between the knower and the surrounding world, thus not separating but connecting them. Under the second pillar, “truth,” are inquiries into the epistemic obligations and possibilities to seek and tell the truth universities and academics have in a “post-truth” world. The third pillar, “critical thinking,” addresses the matter as to what understandings of being critical are appropriate to higher education, not least against a background of heightening state interventions and self-interest on the part of students, especially in marketized systems of higher education. The fourth pillar, that of “culture,” is interested in the possibility and ability for academics and universities to intersect and contribute to public debates, events, and initiatives on mediating and solving conflicts between value and belief systems in culturally complex societies. When seen together, the four pillars of the research field constitute the philosophy of higher education resting on four foundational strands of an epistemic, communal, ethical, and cultural heritage and future.

Education and the Zeitgeist: government positions and public opinion on income distribution

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tor G. Jakobsen
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Public Opinion ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Political Elite ◽  
The Self ◽  
Bandwagon Effect ◽  
Dual Nature ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
The Government

Despite a sizable literature on the elite mass linkage, few of these studies are cross-national. In this paper, I apply multilevel ordered logit models to investigate public opinion toward redistribution in 23 European countries. I test whether these views depend on: (1) the policies of the government (i.e. the bandwagon effect) and (2) personal interest, as indicated by income and education. Briefly, the bandwagon effect appears when people’s perception of strong support for one line of thinking leads to their adopting this reasoning. The self-interest argument states that those who would benefit from a redistributive policy are likely to support it. In addition, I argue that higher education has a dual nature, consisting of an interest in providing one’s own self-interest as well as a critical thinking component. Elite opinion is quantified from the party manifestos of incumbent parties and tested against data from the European Social Survey. I find no significant direct effect of political elite views on public opinion. On the other hand, there is strong support for the self-interest argument, and yet the rightist tendency for higher educated persons is significantly smaller if their government is economically conservative. This finding is attributed to the critical thinking argument as well as to the reasoning that higher education makes people better able to filter political information, thus countering the bandwagon effect.

EL PENSAMIENTO CRÍTICO EN LA EDUCACIÓN DE POSGRADO: PROPUESTA DE UN MODELO PARA SU INTEGRACIÓN AL PROCESO EDUCATIVO

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Manosalvas Vaca ◽  
Luis Manosalvas Vaca ◽  
Ruth Barba
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Detailed Analysis ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Learning Processes ◽  
Educación Superior ◽  
Educacion Superior ◽  
Educational Processes ◽  
Palabras Clave

La presente investigación, analiza los conceptos más importantes del pensamiento Crítico, así como su importancia y utilidad en los procesos de formación profesional a nivel de Posgrado. Se hace un análisis detallado de los conceptos más ampliamente aceptado y de los factores inmersos en el desarrollo y aplicación de este tipo de pensamiento. Finalmente se propone un modelo que engloba los conceptos y factores analizados y como se interrelacionan entre ellos; el objetivo final es brindar a los docentes y directivos de Instituciones de Educación Superior, una herramienta que posibilite la inclusión de este tipo de pensamiento en sus procesos enseñanza-aprendizaje con el fin último de mejorar la calidad de los procesos de formación. Palabras Clave: Pensamiento Crítico, Educación Superior, Educación ABSTRACT This research analyzes the most important concepts of critical thinking as well as their importance and usefulness for the educational processes at graduate level. A detailed analysis of the most widely accepted concepts and factors involved in the development and application of this kind of thinking has been made. Finally, a model that includes the concepts and analyzed factors and their interrelations is proposed; the ultimate goal is to provide teachers and directors of Institutions in Higher Education, a tool that enables the inclusion of this type of thinking in their teaching and learning processes with the ultimate intention of improving the quality of the training processes. Keywords: Critical thinking, Higher Education, Education Recibido: mayo de 2016Aprobado: septiembre de 2016

A Compass During the Storm: Offering Students Critical Rigor for Polarizing Times

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Wender ◽  
Valerie J. D’Erman
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Political Science ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Learning Objective ◽  
First Year

ABSTRACT Teaching and learning in higher education is occurring, unavoidably, within the broader civic context of today’s extraordinarily polarizing political times. We seek to help students situate themselves with respect to and, above all, thoughtfully assess others’ as well as their own perspectives on issues of profound contention, without contributing to exacerbated polarization ourselves. Specifically, we offer students in our first-year exploratory political science course a vital tool—critical rigor—for navigating but not being inundated by the storm. This article discusses our experiences in teaching the course titled, “The Worlds of Politics,” as we attempt to help students deeply engage in cognitive processes of critical thinking and analysis, without undue infringement from their own—and least of all our own—personal political biases. Our focal learning objective is the cultivation of critical-thinking skills that promote students’ drawing of distinctions between advocacy and analysis, as well as their discerning civic engagement.

Borders, paths and orientations: assembling the higher education research field as doctoral students and supervisors

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 422-437
Author(s):  
Tai Peseta ◽  
Giedre Kligyte ◽  
Amani Bell ◽  
Brittany Hardiman ◽  
Delyse Leadbeatter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education Research ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Higher Education Research

Indigenous Undergraduates’ Use of Supplementary Tutors: Developing Academic Capabilities for Success in Higher Education Studies

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-128
Author(s):  
Martin Nakata ◽  
Vicky Nakata ◽  
Andrew Day ◽  
Gregory Martin ◽  
Michael Peachey
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Indigenous Students ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Academic Knowledge ◽  
Success In Higher Education ◽  
Hidden Knowledge

This article presents an analysis of statements from Indigenous students in an Australian university that describe how they use supplementary tutors. The analysis provides some evidence that students use tutors for much more than the prescribed remedial purpose to assist with gaps in assumed academic knowledge and skills to prevent subject failures. Students also use tutors to access hidden knowledge and develop capabilities that assist their progress from dependence on assistance to independence in learning. Our analysis has implications for the conceptualisation and management of supplementary tutoring for Indigenous students.

Fostering Critical Thinking Skills in European and Asian Higher Education Institutions

2021 ◽  
pp. 138-150
Author(s):  
Svetlana Antonova ◽  
Tatyana Pletyago ◽  
Anna Ostapenko
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Classroom Environment ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
University Education ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Professional Activities

There is a demand for transformation in higher education. Undergraduates need to be taught critical thinking, an essential skill that should be central to the mission of all educational institutions. Critical thinking is a key focus of academic interest among researchers in the field of pedagogy and methodology. Despite this, there is still a lack of sufficient information on approaches, methods, techniques, and means of incorporating critical thinking skills in the classroom environment at the tertiary education level. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the hands-on experiences of some European and Asian universities in promoting critical thinking education using a range of academic models. The review shows that critical thinking has already been integrated into many major tertiary education programmes in both European and Asian universities. Further, majority of the academic models implemented are transferable and flexible. The results confirm that in terms of content, methods, and technologies, university education is focusing on cultivating the higher order skills necessary for innovative professional activities in modern world.

scholarly journals PROMOTING LIBERAL EDUCATION THROUGH THE LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF CRITICAL THINKING: A RATIONALE AND PLAN

2021 ◽  
pp. 125-144
Author(s):  
Henry Braun ◽  
Katrina Borowiec
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Liberal Education ◽  
Initial Study ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Professional Success ◽  
Rigorous Research ◽  
Technical Issues ◽  
Missed Opportunity

In recent years, U.S. higher education has received much criticism for inadequately preparing students for the ‘real world.’ There is substantial empirical evidence (e.g., Arum & Roksa, 2011) that many students graduate with limited proficiency in key 21st century skills such as critical thinking (CT). Despite its importance in achieving personal advancement and professional success, there has been surprisingly little rigorous research on the development of CT during the undergraduate years. We believe this is a missed opportunity for higher education to better understand the various trajectories of CT development and to generate credible evidence to inform policies, programs, and practices – while also strengthening its standing among its various stakeholders. We argue that, despite a number of challenges, it is feasible to design and implement a comprehensive, longitudinal study of the development of CT (and related constructs). Although CT is an important learning objective at all colleges, it has special resonance for schools and programs that aim to provide a liberal education. For various reasons we propose that the initial study be conducted within a particular subset of such institutions; namely, a sample of American Jesuit colleges and universities. We discuss a number of technical issues germane to such a study, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of our preferred choice of an institutional sample.

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