博雅教育与工作的人文化——论杜威与赫钦斯之争

Liberal Education and Humanization of Work——An Analysis of the Dispute Between Dewey and Hutchins

博雅教育和职业教育之争已有数个世纪,参与此争论最有名的两人莫过于杜威与赫钦斯。两者都认为每个人都应接受博雅教育,实现工作的人文化和社会的民主,但对博雅教育的本质以及博雅教育本身究竟是工具还是目的存在分歧。杜威坚持将博雅教育与职业相结合,而赫钦斯主张博雅教育理应高于劳动。这些相似点与不同点其实是两人对于人性对于人类美好生活的不同憧憬的体现,也为今后的教育带来了一定的启发意义。

The question about whether schools should focus on liberal education or vocational education has been inquired about and explored for centuries. John Dewey and Robert Maynard Hutchins had rather heated debates about this dispute. Both agree that everyone should receive liberal education, so that work can be humanized and social democracy can be achieved. But the two disagree with each other when it comes to what liberal education really is and whether liberal education should be seen as a tool or an end. Dewey insists on combining liberal education and labor, while Hutchins argues that liberal education should be superior to labor. These similarities and differences embody their distinct visions of living a good life and of being human, which would hopefully bring some insights into future education.