Full Description
Presenting a robust and philosophically based account of education from the Catholic point of view, Sean Whittle engages with important debates and questions concerning the nature and purpose of Catholic education and schooling. The book opens with a review of the criticisms that have emerged about the prevalence of Catholic schools within the state system and, indeed, about the very notion of there being such a thing as 'Catholic education'. The author then goes on to survey official Church teaching on education and the work of key Catholic thinkers, Newman and Maritain, before moving on to discuss the writings of Karl Rahner, a leading twentieth century theologian. A Theory of Catholic Education argues that Rahner's approach, with his focus on the place of mystery in human experience, provides a way forward. Ultimately, Whittle demonstrates how Catholic theology can offer a unique and much needed theory of education.
Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Testing times for Catholic education
2. Official Church teachings and the theory of Catholic education
3. Newman and the theory of Catholic education
4. Maritain and the theory of Catholic education
5. How to go about constructing a robust theory of Catholic education
6. Using the theology of Karl Rahner to develop the theory of Catholic education
7. Mystery, Rahner and the theory of Catholic education
8. Are there any mysteries that are unsolvable in principle?
9. Practical proposals for the curriculum
10. Towards a theory of Catholic education
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
