Deweyan Prophetic Pragmatism, Poetry, and the Education of Eros

Abstract

Eros and education is an ancient theme in Western thought, and from beginning it has been associated with moral development, creativity, and, above all, wisdom. The topic of Eros and education has disappeared from contemporary educational conversation. It is a sign, perhaps, of overly intellectualistic and hyperrationalized way we have of thinking about education. This article seeks to reconvene ancient conversation as well as to restore some of traditional connections between love, poetry, creativity, and wisdom. Eros will allow us to think about these topics in effective, even if largely forgotten, ways. Next, I will identify theme of Eros and education in work of John Dewey. This will be done by emphasizing his work on art and aesthetics where it becomes clear that science, logic, and method of inquiry are themselves understood aesthetically and as subordinate to acts of creation. I will make use of Thomas Alexander's idea of the Human Eros. The article concludes w...