MURAL - Maynooth University Research Archive Library



    Educating Beyond Cultural Diversity: Redrawing the Boundaries of a Democratic Plurality


    Todd, Sharon (2011) Educating Beyond Cultural Diversity: Redrawing the Boundaries of a Democratic Plurality. Studies in Philosophy and Education, 30 (2). pp. 101-111. ISSN 0039-3746

    [thumbnail of document(30).pdf]
    Preview
    Text
    document(30).pdf

    Download (132kB) | Preview

    Abstract

    In this paper I draw some distinctions between the terms ‘‘cultural diversity’’ and ‘‘plurality’’ and argue that a radical conception of plurality is needed in order both to reimagine the boundaries of democratic education and to address more fully the political aspects of conflict that plurality gives rise to. This paper begins with a brief exploration of the usages of the term diversity in European documents that promote intercultural education as a democratic vehicle for overcoming social conflict between different cultural groups. In contradistinction to these usages, this paper calls for a more robust conception of plurality, one that does not simply denote membership in different cultural groupings but is rooted in the human condition and based on a conception of uniqueness. Following the work of Hannah Arendt and feminist philosopher Adriana Cavarero, I explore how the appearance of unique beings in specific contexts can be understood as an eminently political act and I contend that such a view leads to a better educational understanding of conflict and contestation. The paper sketches the contours of democratic plurality along this line of thought and discusses how these new boundaries have implications for education’s relation to democracy.
    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: Hannah Arendt; Adriana Cavarero; Education; Diversity; Democracy; Politics; Europe; Uniqueness;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Social Sciences > Education
    Item ID: 8546
    Depositing User: Prof. Sharon Todd
    Date Deposited: 01 Aug 2017 16:59
    Journal or Publication Title: Studies in Philosophy and Education
    Publisher: Springer Verlag
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    URI: https://mu.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/8546
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

    Repository Staff Only (login required)

    Item control page
    Item control page

    Downloads

    Downloads per month over past year

    Origin of downloads