The relevance of a Catholic philosophy of education

Abstract

This chapter discusses the major critiques of institution-based education, particularly higher education. It describes the philosophies of education in the Catholic tradition and identifies some of the basic educational principles. In many countries up until the mid-20th century, a large number of educational institutions had a close connection with religious groups, and many were initially established by religious denominations. In Catholic educational traditions and, no doubt, in most traditions drawing on religious faith, the nature and purpose of education is inseparable from the desire for a relation to the divine. In the Catholic traditions, however, education also has Christ as a model of that truly human life- that life lived fully that is a life of authentic freedom. While this principle may not add additional content, it is the principle that Catholic educators and students have traditionally drawn on when confronted with challenges in living and acting on the preceding principles.