Paideia, Prejudice and the Promise of the Practical
In an age of radical pluralism it is increasingly difficult to affirm and sustain the educational aspirations of Greek paideia (Latin humanitas). The most challenging attacks on these aspirations come from standpoints which share a postmodern attitude of opposition towards inherited cultural ideals, especially those which claim universality. This paper first examines optimistic and pessimistic prospects for the educational heritage of humanitas, concluding that, in the face of cultural disparateness which is increasingly evident in post-Enlightenment cultures, the pessimistic case seems to be more convincing. Recognizing that this gives added impetus to postmodernist standpoints, the second section examines some key features of these, taking as its examples arguments of Lyotard, Foucault and Rorty. I show that the prejudices of the postmodernist arguments are as invidious as the discriminatory assumptions and the neglect of the quality of educational practice in the Western cultural inheritance. Recalling some insights which can be gleaned from the educational practices of Socrates, the last section joins these with findings of contemporary philosophers on the pre-judgements and partiality which are inescapable features of human understanding. This is a reclamation and elucidation of a practical and promising humanitas which does justice to the claims of diversity and universality.
Introduction: Hard Times for Paideia
To many it may seem quaint or quixotic to make the ancient notion of paideia the theme of a world conference of philosophy in cultural circumstances which are variously described as post-industrial, post-Marxist, post-Christian, post-religious, or post-mod...
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A skeptic once argued “trying to find a common cause for every Bermuda Triangle disappearance is no more logical than trying to find a common cause for every automobile accident in Arizona” (“Bermuda Triangle”). Although some theories may be more plausible than others, this is implying that there is not one single explanation of these disappearances. While some researchers propose far-fetched theories, historical events as well as scientific observation and experimentation show many reasonable explanations to the abnormal phenomenon that occurs within the boundaries if the Bermuda Triangle.
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The Bermuda Triangle, an area that stretches from the Florida coast to Bermuda to Puerto Rico, also known as the Deadly Triangle or Devil's Triangle. This area has been the location of many unexplained disappearances and phenomenon’s such as shipwrecks, plane crashes, mysterious disappearances, craft instrument malfunctions. These disappearances and phenomenons have caused many different theories to be developed over the years. This paper will focus on the more plausible theories surrounding the Bermuda Triangle.