Phenomenology, Politics, Education

Abstract

Between education and politics there is an original and undeniable relationship: each civilisation reproduces and recreates itself through education (which is why politics is interested in education) and education is the basis of civil coexistence (that’s why politics depends on the quality of education). In the framework of this mutual interdependence, education may assume towards society a “subversive” or a “countercyclical” role (Neil Postman), according to whether the historical moment is characterised by stability or quick and deep changes. In any case, education is always “political”, since upon it depends the process of “democratization of democracy” (Anthony Giddens) that society should provide in order to avoid the decline and pervertion of the spirit and values of the democratic citizenship. From this viewpoint, phenomenology contributes to the training of feeling and thinking underlying the critical exercise of reason and choice.