Onderwijs doet deugd

: MacIntyre’s Neo-Aristotelische deugdenleer als filosofisch fundament voor het onderwijs.

Abstract

What is education good for? The answer to this question gives substance to the purpose and associated task of education. The research being done to find an answer to this fundamental question is the area of expertise of the educational philosopher. Contemporary philosophy of education has frequently analyzed the meaning of the Aristotelian teachings of the virtues. Because these analyses concern a revised version of the Aristotelian virtue theory, stripped of its elitist and aristocratic characteristics, it is referred to as the Neo-Aristotelian virtue theory. The philosopher who fueled this Neo-Aristotelian thinking in educational philosophy is Alasdair MacIntyre. Within this context my research is aimed at finding an answer to the question: how Alasdair MacIntyre's Neo-Aristotelian account of the virtues can provide a philosophical foundation for contemporary education. To find that answer I first and foremost analyzed MacInyre’s own, constantly refined, Neo-Aristotelian vision on education. Subsequently, the literature of some leading educational philosophers who examined a specific concept of MacIntyre's Neo-Aristotelian virtue theory and its value for education. Thereafter the main criticisms have been scrutinized, to help determine a correct interpretation of MacIntyre’s philosophical view on education. This shows that MacIntyre’s main goal is that education leads to an educated public of dependent rational animals. Ultimately, my findings led to the following answer to the presented question how to realize that goal. MacIntyre’s Neo-Aristotelian account of the virtues can provide a philosophical foundation for contemporary education when his three interpretations of virtue; as a moral value, as a form of excellence and as phronèsis, are linked to four development areas within education; economical, social, cultural and personal. This is how an educated public can arise. An educated public that is capable of establishing a more social and just society. Virtue as a foundation for education enables people to deliberately choose values and develop qualities and skills in a fruitful environment. In addition to being good at something, you will also become a good person. Virtuous education is education for the good and therefore good education.

Date of Award	20 Jun 2022
Original language	Dutch
Supervisor	Jeroen Vanheste (Supervisor) & Herman Simissen (Examiner)