Theorising Character Education

Abstract

This chapter critically engages with the theoretical ideas underpinning character education. It argues that the notion of ‘education for character’ can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who argued that the ‘good life’—a life of ‘human flourishing’—requires above all the exercise of virtue. The chapter first summarises the core ideas of virtue ethics and argues that there are various problems with this ethical theory, most notably that it does not provide adequate guidance about what a person should do when faced with a specific moral dilemma. Second, it outlines the understanding of character education advanced by character educators in Britain in recent years and criticizes it for its emphasis on personal ethics rather than public ethics, and for its individualistic approach to addressing important moral and political issues.