Foundational educational theories

politics, upbringing, nature, culture, institutions

PhD course (7,5 ECTS) in Philosophy of Education

Malmö, 22-26th, May 2023

What is the course about?

We believe that educational theories are fundamentally about disclosing and trying to understand
what takes places in pedagogical situations and relations. This process would typically begin in
foundational questions or a thematic area of interest that helps to focus the critical gaze. In this
course, we have selected a few what we believe to be central educational questions and themes
that in some ways overlap, yet in other ways send the gaze of the educational thinker in very
different directions. In relation to these questions and tensions we have chosen a few foundational
texts in the field of educational theory; texts that we deem to go to the heart of the questions and
tension we explore. Some are what we might call classics and others are responses to these or
more contemporary perspectives. They are foundational in the sense of having been or being
influential and instrumental for opening up new ways of understanding pedagogical situations,
practices and relations.
The four questions and themes we will be exploring in the course are: traditions in educational
theory, the relation between education and politics, education and upbringing, and educational
institutions. These do not, of course, offer a comprehensive view of the field of educational theory,
yet they each, in their own way, address the kinds of educational questions that continue to haunt
educational discourse. How should we approach the theoretical study of education? What is the
relation between politics and education? What is the relation between education and upbringing?
What is the role of our educational institutions?

Themes:

Traditions and the relation Education and upbringing; Educational institutions;

between education and Nature and culture Schooling and University
politics
Readings: Biesta, Oelkers, Readings: Mollenhauer, Readings: Masschelein &
Arendt, etc. Rousseau, etc. Simons, Nietzsche, etc.

The PhD course is free of charge, but the PhD candidate must finance travel and accommodation.
During the week we will engage in intense collective readings, discussions and watch films that in some
way connect with the literature and the themes. We will explore the themes and texts together in order
to become clearer on the connections between these and current work in educational philosophy and
theory. The week is fully seminar-based, and thus the course will take the form of a collective
undertaking of educational thinking and inquiry.

Organizers and primary teachers: Johan Dahlbeck and Morten T. Korsgaard

For further information and application, please contact: morten.korsgaard@mau.se

For registration go to: https://mau.se/en/research/doctoral-studies/doctoral-courses/#accordion-96682