Navigating the Tension of Socialization and Individualization: On Rorty’s Concept of Education

Year 2024, Issue: 21, 109 - 128, 03.06.2024

Ferdi Selim

https://doi.org/10.55256/temasa.1422767

Abstract

Known as a radical postmodernist, Rorty is eager to set aside the absolute principles of modern philosophy. This is also the case when it comes to individuals and their education. The idea of education is therefore closely linked to his objections to truth claims. The educational suggestion for individuals who are aware of the contingency of their selves is to create useful language games. This type of training, called edification, consists of two steps. While the stage up to university is to meet cultures that are the common product of knowledge accumulation and vocabulary, the university stage is to create a new opportunity with metaphors in the common culture of humanity. This view is also compatible with Rorty’s assumption of the liberal ironist, who is the ideal individual type in Postmodern Bourgeois Liberalism. From this perspective, this study aimed to determine where Rorty is positioned in terms of his philosophical views and especially his thoughts on education. Then, the philosophy of education, which spans two fields as socialization and individualization, was opened to discussion without ignoring its political views. It is known that this Rorty’s views has received serious criticism. For this reason, the relevant criticisms were also wanted to be discussed in the study. Finally, the hopeful aspects of this idea, which is important in terms of understanding the age, are mentioned.

Keywords

Rorty, Socialization, Individualization, Edification, Liberal Ironist

Sosyalleşme ve Bireyselleşme Geriliminde Dolaşmak: Rorty’nin Eğitim Anlayışı Üzerine

Abstract

Radikal bir postmodernist olarak tanınan Rorty, modern felsefenin mutlak ilkelerini bir kenara bırakma konusunda oldukça isteklidir. Bireyler ve onların eğitimleri söz konusu olduğunda da bu böyledir. Bu nedenle eğitim fikri hakikat iddialarına yönelik itirazlarıyla yakından bağlantılıdır. Benliklerinin olumsallığının farkında olan bireyler için eğitim önerisi kullanışlı dil oyunları yaratmaktır. Kendini geliştirmek olarak adlandırılan bu tür eğitim iki basamaktan oluşmaktadır. Üniversiteye kadar olan aşaması bilgi yığma ve sözcük dağarlarının ortak ürünü olan kültürlerle tanışmakken üniversite basamağı insanlığın ortak kültüründe metaforlarla yeni olanaklar yaratmaktır. Bu görüş, Rorty’nin Postmodern Burjuva Liberalizmi’nde ideal birey tipi olan liberal ironist varsayımıyla da uyumludur. Bu perspektiften bu çalışmada Rorty’nin felsefi görüş ve özellikle eğitimle ilgili düşünceleriyle nerede konumlandığı tespit edilmek istenmiştir. Ardından sosyalleşme ve bireyselleşme olarak iki sahaya yayılan eğitim felsefesi politik görüşleri de göz ardı edilmeden tartışmaya açılmıştır. Bu yanıyla Rorty’nin görüşlerinin ciddi eleştiriler aldığı bilinmektedir. Bu nedenle ilgili eleştiriler de çalışma içerisinde tartışılmak istenmiştir. Nihayet çağı anlamak bakımından önemli olan bu düşüncenin umut veren yönlerinden söz edilmiştir.

Keywords

Rorty, Sosyalleşme, Bireyselleşme, Kendini Yetiştirme, Liberal İronist

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