Against Aristotelian Character Education

Benjamin Miller is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.

• 1. Against Aristotelian Character Education: An Introduction Part 1: Aristotle and Virtuous Knowledge 2. Aristotle’s Value Theory: Specifiable, Detailed, and Complete 3. Virtue Requires Extensive Value Knowledge 4. Virtue Requires Understanding the Nature of Value 5. Virtue Requires Knowing What Political Experts Know Part 2: Neo-Aristotelian Education vs Liberal Democracy 6. Aristotelian Pluralism Is The Wrong Sort Of Pluralism 7. Neo-Aristotelian Flourishing and the Problem of Paternalism 8. The Problem With Practical Wisdom 9. Some Lessons from Aristotle for Liberal Education

“Miller’s argument is clear and compelling, and his book enters into a conversation that is crucial to continue within the field of character education . . . Against Aristotelian Character Education deserves the careful attention of both Aristotle scholars and those who seek to apply Aristotelian insights to the sphere of education.”Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews“Miller advances three compelling lines of argument to show that Aristotle thinks that practically wise people use the knowledge of a detailed ‘grand end’ to steer by when making decisions. Building on his interpretation of Aristotle, Miller argues persuasively that neo-Aristotelian theories of education are committed to the view that government should inculcate specific conceptions of practical wisdom and the human good in its citizenry. Miller concludes that character education violates liberal neutrality. This is a well-argued, thought-provoking challenge to neo-Aristotelian virtue education. Ignore it at your peril.”Howard J. Curzer, Texas Tech University, USA“Miller’s book addresses a very real question, and one that is long overdue, perhaps because it requires substantial knowledge and research in no fewer than three areas to address that question fully. The depth of his knowledge and research in these areas is also very impressive. I think that this book is likely to change the scholarly conversation, so to speak, about state-based character education in general and its influential Aristotelian version in particular.”Daniel C. Russell, University of Arizona, USA