Educating Reason: Rationality, Critical Thinking, and Education

First Published in 1988. The critical thinking movement is increasingly important in the philosophy of education. Beginning from the generally accepted view that children should be taught to reason, not simply to repeat what they have been told, it tries to establish whether it is in fact possible to teach children a set of skills which add up to thinking. Siegel here examines three major conceptions of critical thinking and then puts forward his own definition of the critical thinker as one who is appropriately moved by reasons'. He argues that critical thinking is a fundamental educational ideal, and defends the ideal against charges of indoctrination. Chapters on science education and minimum competency testing highlight its practical implications for education policy and curriculum. This book should be of interest to lecturers and students of education and philosophy.