Education's Epistemology ─ Rationality, Diversity, and Critical Thinking

Education's Epistemology extends and further defends Harvey Siegel's "reasons conception" of critical thinking. It analyzes and emphasizes both the epistemic quality, and the dispositions and character traits that constitute the "critical spirit," that are central to a proper account of critical thinking; argues that that epistemic quality must be understood ultimately in terms of epistemic rationality; defends a conception of rationality that involves both rules and judgment; and argues that critical thinking has normative value over and above its instrumental tie to truth. Siegel also argues, contrary to currently popular multiculturalist thought, for both transcultural and universal philosophical ideals, including those of multiculturalism and of critical thinking themselves.

Harvey Siegel is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Miami, Coral Gables FL. He is the author of five books, most recently Teaching Evolution in a Creation Nation and Teaching Thinking Skills. In addition, he has edited two books, including the Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Education. He works mainly in epistemology, philosophy of science, and philosophy of education.