Civic Education: Political or Comprehensive?

Abstract

In determining the proper scope of political liberalism and how it differs from comprehensive liberalism, one of the central test cases has been the civic education of children as future citizens. Rawls argues that political liberalism's approach to education "has a different aim and requires far less" than comprehensive liberalism (Rawls 2005, 199). 1 The politically liberal state would only require the kind of education needed so that children as future citizens can understand the political conception of justice and cultivate important political virtues (PL, 199). To do so, civic education aims at cultivating the reasonableness of children as future citizens.

Political Liberalism, Autonomy, and Education

“…Consequently, opponents of the convergence thesis conclude that, ceteris paribus, the kind of citizenship education required by political liberalism is compatible with a range of educational options for students and families that reflect the reasonable pluralism of their societies. In other words, opponents of the convergence thesis generally are sympathetic to forms of educational choice for families that accommodate citizens' diverse comprehensive doctrines while at the same time ensuring that all students learn how to become rational and reasonable persons (see Davis and Neufeld 2007, Ebels-Duggan 2013, and Edenberg 2016.…”

Political Liberalism, Autonomy, and Education

“…Consequently, opponents of the convergence thesis conclude that, ceteris paribus, the kind of citizenship education required by political liberalism is compatible with a range of educational options for students and families that reflect the reasonable pluralism of their societies. In other words, opponents of the convergence thesis generally are sympathetic to forms of educational choice for families that accommodate citizens' diverse comprehensive doctrines while at the same time ensuring that all students learn how to become rational and reasonable persons (see Davis and Neufeld 2007, Ebels-Duggan 2013, and Edenberg 2016. In contrast, defenders of the convergence thesis, because they contend that all students need to learn to become ethically autonomous, generally are less sympathetic to any decentralization of citizenship educational requirements, at least with respect to curriculum content and pedagogy.…”

“…Davis and Neufeld (2007: 60-67) explicitly defend Rawls's modest interpretation of what acceptance of the burdens requires of citizens; they use possible lessons on the history of religious conflicts to defend their view with respect to educating students about the fact of reasonable pluralism. (See also Edenberg 2016. ) Even if Callan's interpretation of the burdens of judgement is correct, though, political liberals could respond by claiming that students do not need to be taught to accept the burdens in order to become reasonable persons (see Strike 1996 andWenar 1995).…”

“…One way to understand how citizens can be reasonable persons is to see reasonableness as involving a form of mutual respect (see Edenberg 2016). Given its political context, this conception of mutual respect can be termed 'civic respect' (Neufeld 2005(Neufeld , 2019.…”

Dependency Care in a Politically Liberal Society

“…By contrast, Bhandary adds a wide set of autonomy skills as a necessary part of the justificatory structure of LDC. 9 I survey the debate concerning the differences between political liberal and comprehensive liberal approaches to civic education inEdenberg (2016). See alsoNeufeld (2013) for a helpful overview of these debates.Book Symposium: Asha Bhandary's Freedom to Care…”