Modes of Learning: Whitehead's Metaphysics and the Stages of Education

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Modes of Learning Whitehead’s Metaphysics and the Stages of Education George Allan Published by State University of New York Press, Albany© 2012 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY www.sunypress.edu Production by Kelli W. LeRoux Marketing by Fran Keneston Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Allan, George, 1935– Modes of learning : Whitehead's metaphysics and the stages of education / George Allan. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 978-1-4384-4187-0 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Whitehead, Alfred North, 1861–1947. 2. Education—Philosophy. I. Title. LB775.W4642A45 2012 370.1—dc23 2011021200 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Disinterested scientific curiosity is a passion for an ordered intellectual vision of the connection of events. But the goal of such curiosity is the marriage of action to thought. . . . Education should turn out the pupil with something he knows well and something he can do well. This intimate union of practice and theory aids both. The intellect does not work best in a vacuum. —Alfred North Whitehead, The Aims of Education Whatever is found in ‘practice’ must lie within the scope of the metaphysical description. When the description fails to include the ‘practice,’ the metaphysics is inadequate and requires revision. There can be no appeal to practice to supplement metaphysics, so long as we remain contented with our metaphysical doctrines. Metaphysics is nothing but the description of the generalities which apply to all the details of practice. . . . No metaphysical system can hope entirely to satisfy these pragmatic tests. At the best such a system will remain only an approximation to the general truths which are sought. —Alfred North Whitehead, Process and Reality ...